As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
1. Bureau. "Bureau" means the Bureau of Parks and Lands.
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]
1-A. Archery equipment. "Archery equipment" has the same meaning as in section 10001, subsection 3‑B.
[PL 2023, c. 239, §1 (NEW).]
2. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
[PL 2001, c. 604, §1 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §6 (REV).]
3. Department. "Department" means the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV).]
4. Director. "Director" means the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands.
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]
4-A. Ecological reserve. "Ecological reserve" means an area owned or leased by the State, under the jurisdiction of the bureau, designated by the director for the purpose of maintaining one or more natural community types or native ecosystem types in a natural condition and range of variation and contributing to the protection of Maine's biological diversity and managed:
A. As a benchmark against which biological and environmental change may be measured; [PL 1999, c. 592, §2 (NEW).]
B. To protect sufficient habitat for those species whose habitat needs are unlikely to be met on lands managed for other purposes; or [PL 1999, c. 592, §2 (NEW).]
C. As a site for ongoing scientific research, long-term environmental monitoring and education. [PL 1999, c. 592, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 1999, c. 592, §2 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]
5. Historic site. "Historic site" means any area of land owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the State, with or without buildings, improvements or other structures, that has been classified by the director for public use wholly or primarily because of its historical, archaeological or scientific interest or value.
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
6. Nonreserved public lands. "Nonreserved public lands" means all public domain lands, public islands in inland and coastal waters, lands acquired under section 8003, subsection 3, paragraph N, lands acquired by the bureau pursuant to other lawful authority and any other lands the management and control of which are not otherwise provided for by law.
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]
7. Park. "Park" means any area of land or an interest in land, with or without improvements, that is acquired by or under the control of the State, managed primarily for public recreation or conservation purposes and classified by the director as a park, including:
A. Any area of considerable extent, but not exceeding 10,000 acres, in which are combined superlative or distinctive scenic characteristics and a reasonably varied, extensive or exceptional opportunity for active recreation; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
B. Any area not exceeding 1,000 acres that is with or without distinctive characteristics but contains natural features that afford ample opportunity for development and use for active recreation; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
C. Any area included in paragraphs A and B that is within easy access of any road or highway, except extensions to road or highway rights-of-way, turnouts, loops or other additions to roads or highways the primary purpose of which is to preserve the natural beauty of lands bordering such roads or highways or to afford temporary stopping points along such roads or highways; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
D. Any strip or strips of land, with or without roads, highways or improvements, that are required for ingress and egress to or from any of the areas described in paragraphs A to C, which may not exceed in length the distance required to connect those areas with the nearest arterial or trunk-line highway, railroad line or terminal or other public transportation facility or way; and [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
E. Any area of land largely in a natural condition and containing natural features of scenic, ecological or scientific interest or importance. The presence of human-made development does not preclude an area from this classification if that development is not likely to remain or leave a permanent mark upon the natural character of the area or is essential to the operation of the area as a wilderness or natural area, as long as the development detracts only minimally from the area's natural character. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §14 (COR).]
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §14 (COR).]
8. Public reserved lands. "Public reserved lands" means:
A. All the public reserved lots of the State, including any ministerial and school lands in the unincorporated areas of the State; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
B. All lands acquired with proceeds from the sale of public reserved lands; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
C. All lands received by the State in exchange for or pursuant to relocation of public reserved lands; and [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
D. All lands acquired by the State and expressly designated as public reserved lands by the director or otherwise by law. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
9. Submerged lands. "Submerged lands" means:
A. All land from the mean low-water mark or a maximum of 1,650 feet seaward of the mean high-water mark, whichever is closer to the mean high-water mark, out to the seaward boundary of territorial waters as defined in section 6001; [PL 2005, c. 134, §1 (AMD).]
B. All land below the mean low-water mark of tidal rivers upstream to the farthest natural reaches of the tides; [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
C. All land below the natural mean low-water mark of ponds that in their natural state are 10 or more acres in size; and [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
D. The river bed of international boundary rivers, defined as all land lying between the international boundary line and defined banks created by the action of surface water and characterized by a lack of terrestrial vegetation and devoid of topsoil. [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 2005, c. 134, §1 (AMD).]
