An Act To Clarify Performance Standards For Quarries

This bill clarifies which quarries must follow Maine's performance standards by specifically requiring the standards to apply whenever underground blasting is proposed. It directly affects quarries (including those over one acre in size or with adjacent parcels under common ownership) that plan to use underground blasting. The key change removes ambiguity by ensuring the standards cover all such quarry operations involving proposed blasting, while explicitly excluding standard construction-related excavation work unless blasting is involved or intended to bypass the rules. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies existing law to prevent circumvention.