An Act To Prohibit Landfill Expansion Into Wetlands

This bill prohibits the Maine Department of Environmental Protection from issuing permits or licenses to expand solid waste landfills into freshwater wetlands. It directly affects landfill operators and environmental regulators by blocking any new landfill expansions that would alter these protected areas. The legislation amends existing state laws to explicitly ban such permits, aiming to prevent damage to local aquifers, streams, and rivers associated with wetlands. The bill is written as an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately upon approval rather than waiting the usual 90-day period.