The Maine State Planning Office (SPO) was created by the Legislature in 1968 as part of Maine's Executive Department. Its mission was to help build a sustainable future for Maine's communities, businesses and residents. The State Planning Office had four core duties assigned to it by statute that included coordinating the development of the state's economy and energy resources with the conservation of its natural resources; providing technical assistance to the Governor and Legislature by undertaking special studies and plans and preparing policy alternatives; providing technical assistance to towns and regions; and conducting continuing economic analyses, including economic forecasting. The Maine State Planning Office was eliminated effective July 1, 2012.

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Submissions from 2012

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2012 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2011

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2011 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Four-Year Growth Management Program Evaluation. 2011, Maine State Planning Office

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How To Prepare a Land Use Ordinance: a Manual for Local Officials 2011, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2010

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2010 LD 1 Progress Report, Maine State Planning Office

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2010 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Keeping Maine’s Forest-Based Economy: A National Demonstration Project, 2010, Maine State Planning Office and Joel Johnson

Submissions from 2009

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2009 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Creating Traditional, Walkable Neighborhoods: A Handbook for Maine Communities. 2009, Maine State Planning Office

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Final report of the Ocean Energy Task Force to Governor John E. Baldacci, Maine Ocean Energy Task Force

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Model Wind Energy Facility Ordinance. 2009, Maine State Planning Office

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Report on the Costs and Benefits of State and Local Options to Stimulate an Increase in the Recycling of Plastics. 2009, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2008

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2008 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Regional Landscape Conservation in Maine : Best Practices for Enhancing Quality of Place, Brett Richardson

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Scenic Assessment Handbook 2008, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, and Terry DeWan

Submissions from 2007

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2007 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Four-year Growth Management Program Evaluation. 2007, Maine State Planning Office

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LD 1: Second-Year Impact on Tax Burden, 2007, Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services and Maine Revenue Services

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LID Guidance Manual for Maine Communities: Approaches for Implementation of Low Impact Development Practices at the Local Level. 2007, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, and Horsley Witten Group

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Maine's Aging Population: A Survey of Potential Economic Implications, 2007, Maine State Planning Office and Crystal Callahan

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People, Place, and Prosperity : 1st Report of the Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place, Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place and Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2006

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An Evaluation of the Growth Management Act and its Implementation. 2006, Maine State Planning Office

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LD 1: First Year of Progress 2005, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2005

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2005 Report Card on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office

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Comprehensive Planning: A Manual for Maine Communities. 2005, Maine State Planning Office, Evan Richert, and Sylvia Most

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Maine Economic & Demographic Trends, 2005, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose

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Regulating Adult Entertainment Establishments in Maine. 2005, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2004

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2003 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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Energy Resources Council 2004 Work Plan and Report to the Legislature, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Energy Resources Council

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Maine’s Biggest Industries; Structural Overview of the Maine Economy, June 2004, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose

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Revitalizing Maine’s Downtowns. 2004, Maine State Planning Office

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The Great American Neighborhood: Contemporary Design Principles for Building Livable Residential Communities. 2004, Maine State Planning Office, Terrence J. DeWan & Associates, and Kent Associates

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Tracking Commercial Fishing Access: A Survey of Harbormasters in 25 Maine Coastal Communities, Elizabeth Sheehan and Hugh Cowperthwaite

Submissions from 2003

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2002 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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30 & 1000 : A Progress Report : Our Knowledge-based Economy Development Strategy, Maine State Planning Office

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A Brief History of the Maine Economy, 2003, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose

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Community Visioning Handbook: How to Imagine and Create a Better Future. 2003, Maine State Planning Office

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Financing Infrastructure Improvements through Impact Fees: A Manual for Maine Municipalities on the Design and Calculation of Development Impact Fees. 2003, Maine State Planning Office

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Maine Energy Policy Overview and Opportunities for Improvement, 2003, Energy Advisors, LLC and Maine Energy Resources Council

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Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods in Midcoast Maine. Summary Report. 2003, Maine State Planning Office

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Updating Your Comprehensive Plan: 50 Recommendations for Making Plan Updates More Effective. 2003, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 2002

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2001 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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An Outcome-Based Approach To a Rational Tax System, 2002, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

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An Outcome-Based Approach to Rational Tax Reform: Op-Ed by Laurie G. Lachance, State Economist, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

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Final report of the Maine Millennium Commission on Hunger and Food Security, 2002, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Millennium Commission on Hunger and Food Security

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GIS Needs Assessment & Requirements Analysis and Strategic Plan to Develop the Maine Public Library of Geographic Information, 2002, Maine State Planning Office; Applied Geographics, Inc; CDM; and GIS Mapping & Analysis, Inc.

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Indicators of Livable Communities : A Report on Smart Growth and the Impact of Land Use Decisions on Maine's Communities, Environment and Countryside, Darcy Rollins, Maine Development Foundation, and Land and Water Resources Council

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Preserving Commercial Fishing Access : A Study of Working Waterfronts in 25 Maine Communities, Elizabeth Sheehan and Hugh Cowperthwaite

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Reducing Household Energy Consumption in Maine: What it Would Take to Achieve a 25% Reduction by 2011 (2002), Maine State Planning Office and Patricia J. Hart

Submissions from 2001

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2000 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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30 and 1000 : How to Build a Knowledge-based Economy in Maine and Raise Incomes to the National Average by 2010

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Making Schools Important to Neighborhoods Again. 2001, Maine State Planning Office

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Report On An Education Strategy for Public Water Supply Protection Aimed at Municipalities and the General Public. 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Land and Water Resources Council

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Report on the Use of Incentives to Keep Land in Productive Farming, Fishing and Forestry Use. 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Land and Water Resources Council

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Speech of Laurie G. Lachance Maine State Economist to the Blaine House Conference on Tourism, 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

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The Economy: Treading on Thin Ice, Perception or Reality? 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

Submissions from 2000

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1999 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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Presentation of Laurie G. Lachance, State Economist To the Maine Policy Leaders Academy January 12, 2000, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

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State of Maine Climate Change Action Plan, 2000, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1999

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1998 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office

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A Golden Opportunity II: How Maine Can Enhance the Retirement Industry, 1999, Maine State Planning Office

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A Summary of the Findings of Studies Regarding a Maine East-West Highway, 1999, Maine Department of Transportation and Maine State Planning Office

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Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase III Technical Report, Economic Impacts, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation

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Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase II Technical Report, Survey Research and Commodity Forecasts, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation

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Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase I Technical Report, Baseline Conditions, 1999, Maine State Planning Office; Maine Department of Transportation; and RKG Associates, Inc.

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Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase IV Technical Report, Case Study Research, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation

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Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods: An Analysis of a Survey of Recent Homebuyers in Maine, 1999, Maine State Planning Office

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Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods: An Analysis of a Survey of Recent Homebuyers in Maine. 1999, Maine State Planning Office

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Pathways to a Sustainable Future: A Curriculum Guide for Schools Exploring Waste Management Issues. 1999, Michael Heath, Andy Barker, Tom Bertocci, Maine State Planning Office, and Maine Department of Environmental Protection

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Why Households Move: Two Maine Surveys, 1999, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1998

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Issues Facing the Maine Economy, 1998, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

Submissions from 1997

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Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan for Seven Maine Rivers, Maine Atlantic Salmon Task Force

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Maine Counties Selected Economic Measures History and Forecasts, 1997, Maine State Planning Office

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Preliminary Proposal to Relieve Property Taxes Through Reform of Governmental Regulations, 1997, Maine State Planning Office and Task Force on Intergovernmental Structure

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Retail Sales Annual Data 1992-1996, Maine State Planning Office

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Site Plan Review Handbook: a Guide to Developing a Site Plan Review System. 1997, Maine State Planning Office

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Telecommunications and Economic Development: Making the Connection in Maine, 1997, Maine State Planning Office

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The Cost of Sprawl, 1997, Maine State Planning Office

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The Maine Economy: Facing the Challenge, 1997, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance

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The Maine Economy: Year-End Review and Outlook 1996, Maine State Planning Office

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The Maine Economy: Year-End Review and Outlook 1996, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1996

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Great Pond Task Force Preliminary Recommendations* For Public Comment, 1996, Maine State Planning Office

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Strategic Planning and Performance Budgeting : Orientation Handbook, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Bureau of the Budget, and Maine Office of State Training & Quality

Submissions from 1994

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Exploring Limits : Making Decisions About the Use & Development of Maine's Islands, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1993

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An Ecological Reserves System for Maine : Benchmarks in a Changing Landscape, Janet McMahon

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Kennebec River Resource Management Plan, Maine State Planning Office

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Maine Land in Federal, State, Municipal, and Non-profit Conservation Ownership : A Guide to the Maps, Maine State Planning Office and Richard D. Kelly Jr

Submissions from 1992

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Maine Comprehensive Power Plan, Maine State Planning Office and Betsy Elder

Submissions from 1991

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Formalizing the Gulf of Maine Initiative: Institutional Arrangements for Implementing the Gulf of Maine Initiative, Marine Law Institute, University of Maine School of Law and Michele Dorsey

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The Special Commission on Governmental Restructuring, Final Report, December 15, 1991, Special Commission on Governmental Restructuring, Maine State Planning Office, and Executive Director of the Legislative Council

Submissions from 1989

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Charting Our Course : An Activity Guide for Grades 6-12 on Water Quality in the Gulf of Maine, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, Cynthia Krum, Flis Shauffler, Ba Rea, and John Kramer

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Marine Environmental Quality Monitoring Programs in the Gulf of Maine : An Inventory, Maine State Planning Office

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The Gulf of Maine : Sustaining our Common Heritage : Maine, Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, Maine State Planning Office, Katrina Van Dusen, and Anne C. Johnson Hayden

Books from 1987

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Pitch Pine / Scrub Oak Barrens in Maine, Lissa Widoff

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The Penobscot Bay Conservation Plan, Maine State Planning Office, Susan Woodward, Alan Hutchinson, and Mark McCollough

Submissions from 1986

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Streamside Protective Corridors : Techniques for Weighing Costs and Benefits, Lloyd C. Irland

Submissions from 1985

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Natural Resources Inventory and Critical Area Survey of T. 15 R. 9, Mark J. Kern

Submissions from 1984

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Vocational Training in Maine : Assessing Responsiveness to the Labor Market and to Economic Development Needs, Lloyd C. Irland

Submissions from 1983

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Natural Old-Growth Forest Stands in Maine and its Relevance to the Critical Areas Program, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1982

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A Just and Reasonable Price : State Cartelization of Maine's Milk Industry, State Planning Office and Lloyd C. Irland

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Surveying Natural Areas on Maine's Public Lands, Lloyd C. Irland and Harry R. Tyler Jr.

Submissions from 1978

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A More Responsive Government : A Preliminary Report for Public Review of the Task Force on Regional and District Organizations, Maine Task Force on Regional and District Organizations and Maine State Planning Office

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Coastal Policy Study : State of Maine : Travel Development Study, Economics Research Associates

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State of Maine Dams by Town, 1978, Maine State Planning Office

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Waterfalls in Maine and their Relevance to the Critical Areas Program of the State Planning Office, Thomas Brewer

Submissions from 1977

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Commission on Maine's Future: Final Report 1977, Commission on Maine's Future

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Legal Opinions and Court Cases Related to the Subdivision Law (1977), Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1976

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Insulation R & K Factors, Maine Division of Community Services

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Maine's Coast: Special Considerations for the Municipal Planning Process, Maine State Planning Office and Bruce Hendler

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Office Manual: Maine State Planning Office, Maine State Planning Office

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The Maine Competition: Architectural Design for Low-cost Housing, Maine State Planning Office

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The Natural Regions of Maine, Paul R. Adamus M.S., Garrett C. Clough PhD., Maine State Planning Office, and Maine Critical Areas Program

Submissions from 1975

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Natural Occurrence of the American Oyster, Crassostrea viginica, in Maine and its Relevance to the Critical Areas Program, 1975, Joel Cowger

Submissions from 1974

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List of Rivers Subjected to Shorelands Zoning and Subdivision Control (1974), Burton R. Anderson and Charles F. Wallace Jr

Submissions from 1973

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An Historical Review of Oil Spills Along the Maine Coast, 1953-1973, Edward H. Shenton

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Inventory of Dams on Maine Waterways, 1973, Maine State Planning Office

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State of Maine Governmental Reorganization : Departments Approved by Special Session 105th Legislature and Regular Session 106th Legislature, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1971

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Maine Coastal Resources Renewal, Maine State Planning Office

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State of Maine Governmental Reorganization: A Summary of New Departments and Agencies Approved by the 105th Legislature, Maine State Planning Office

Submissions from 1935

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List of State Planning Board Maps Showing Existing Conditions in Maine, Maine State Planning Board

Submissions from 1934

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Report on Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project by the Maine State Planning Board, State House, Augusta, to the Quoddy Hydro-Electric Commission Appointed by Governor Brann, Maine State Planning Board and Alfred Mullikin