Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 581

  • Air contaminants: includes , but is not limited to, dust, fumes, gas, mist, particulate matter, smoke, vapor or any combination thereof. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 582
  • Air pollution: means the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in sufficient quantities and of such characteristics and duration as to be injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property, or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life and property throughout the State or throughout such areas of the State as shall be affected thereby. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 582
  • Emission: means a release of air contaminants into ambient air or the air contaminants so released. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 582
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, corporation, whether private, public or quasi-municipal, municipality, state governmental agency or other legal entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 582
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
The Legislature finds and declares that air pollution exists with varying degrees of severity within this State; that such air pollution is potentially and in some cases actually dangerous to the health of the citizenry, often causes physical discomfort, injury to property and property values, discourages recreational and other uses of the state’s resources and is aesthetically unappealing. [PL 1969, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
The Legislature by this chapter intends to exercise the police power of the State in a coordinated state-wide program to control present and future sources of emission of air contaminants to the end that air polluting activities of every type shall be regulated in a manner that reasonably insures the continued health, safety and general welfare of all of the citizens of the State; protects property values and protects plant and animal life. [PL 1969, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
Nothing in this chapter is intended, nor shall be construed, to limit, impair, abridge, create, enlarge or otherwise affect, substantively or procedurally, the right of any person to damage or other relief on account of injury to persons or property due to violation of air quality standards or emission standards and to maintain any action or other appropriate procedure therefor; nor to so affect the powers of the State to initiate, prosecute and maintain actions to abate public nuisances. [PL 1969, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY

PL 1969, c. 474, §1 (NEW).