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<p class="xmsonormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Please distribute this notice as appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity for Public Comment</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">for<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Maine’s Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (“Board”) invites the public to attend a public hearing, to offer oral testimony, and to submit written comments on proposed changes to Maine’s
water quality standards as part of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (“Department”) Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards. The federal Clean Water Act and Maine law (38 M.R.S. § 464(3)(B)) requires states to periodically, but at least
once every 3 years, hold a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing water quality standards and, as appropriate, for modifying existing and developing new water quality standards.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, 5 M.R.S. §§ 8001 – 11008, Maine’s Water Classification Program, 38 M.R.S. §§ 464 – 470,
<a name="_Hlk79479024">and the Board’s responsibilities and duties under 38 M.R.S. § 341-D(8), the Board will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on changes to Maine’s water quality standards, including changes that are currently proposed and any other
recommended changes</a>. The current proposal for changes to Maine’s water quality standards (including Department responses to preliminary public comments) is available on the
<a href="https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wqs/triennial-review.html">Department’s Triennial Review of Maine's Water Quality Standards webpage</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Following the public hearing and written comment period, the Board will deliberate proposed changes to the water quality standards and may vote to recommend to the Maine Legislature specific
statutory changes necessary to implement new or revised water quality standards. The Legislature has the sole authority to make changes to the water quality classification system. Any changes to Maine’s water quality standards enacted by the Legislature must
be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take final effect. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Public Hearing</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"> The public hearing will be held at
the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine on <b>Thursday, October 16, 2025,
<a name="_Hlk79477579">beginning at 9:00 a.m</a></b><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk79477579"></span>. Further information on the Board hearing, including an agenda and hearing materials, will be available on the
<a href="https://www.maine.gov/dep/bep/index.html">Board webpage</a> approximately one week prior to the hearing. Persons who testify are encouraged to also submit to Board Clerk Ruth Ann Burke (<a href="mailto:clerk.bep@maine.gov">clerk.bep@maine.gov</a>)
a written copy of their testimony during or immediately following the hearing. The hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to offer testimony and useful information. Department staff and Board members will not respond to questions during the hearing.
The Board and staff to the Board may ask clarifying questions of any person offering testimony at the hearing. Any person with a disability who plans to attend the hearing and requires specific accommodations should contact the Board Clerk (<a href="mailto:clerk.bep@maine.gov">clerk.bep@maine.gov</a>
or 207-287-2811) prior to the hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">Public Comments</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"> In addition to the opportunity to
provide oral testimony at the public hearing, written comments on the proposed Triennial Review of Maine’s Water Quality Standards may be submitted to the Board from August 28, 2025 through the close of the comment period at 11:59 p.m. on
<b>Wednesday, October 22, 2025</b>. Written comments should be directed to: Department of Environmental Protection, Attn: Meagan Sims, 17 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0017, or submitted via email to
<a href="mailto:TRComments.DEP@maine.gov">TRComments.DEP@maine.gov</a>. See <a href="http://www.maine.gov/dep/comment/">
Maine DEP Opportunity for Comment</a>.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;mso-ligatures:none">For further information, contact Meagan Sims at
<a href="mailto:meagan.sims@maine.gov">meagan.sims@maine.gov</a> or (207) 508-8776.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt"> </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Meagan Sims<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Water Quality Standards Coordinator, Bureau of Water Quality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.maine.gov/dep/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#4472C4">Maine Department of Environmental Protection</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#4472C4"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(207) 508-8776, </span><a href="mailto:meagan.sims@maine.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#4472C4">meagan.sims@maine.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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