Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, § 1864: Emergency authority to regulate surface use, 2001

The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may jointly issue an emergency order to restrict access to or restrict or prohibit the use of any watercraft on all or a portion of a water body that has a confirmed infestation of an invasive aquatic plant or animal. The order must be for a specific period of time and may be issued only when the use of watercraft on that water body threatens to worsen or spread the infestation. The order may require that watercraft using waters affected by the order be taken out of or launched on the water only at locations identified in the order. The order may require inspections and cleaning of watercraft, watercraft trailers and equipment upon removal at sites that have been identified in the order. Inspections must be conducted by designated state-trained boat inspectors. For purposes of this section, "designated state boat inspector" means a person trained by the State and identified by the department or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a person who is qualified to properly conduct inspection activities. [PL 2025, c. 116, §4 (AMD).]