In 1978, Maine banned the construction of new seawalls because the walls increase coastal erosion and worsen storms by preventing sand dunes from naturally protecting beaches and homes. LD 1218 attempted to lift this ban and allow the construction of any permanent barrier to protect a residential property from natural disasters. The bill was defeated because its broad language would have allowed unregulated construction of many seawalls and other barriers along Maine’s coast and because the state proposed alternative solutions for protecting residential properties without causing damage to sand dune systems.

Votes / Roll Calls:

Date	Desc	Yea	Nay	No Vote	Absent	Total	Passed	Chamber
01/01/2009	Roll Call	6	6	0	0	12
Votes	Show Susan M. W. Austin Nay Seth A. Berry Yea Bruce A. Bickford Nay Richard M. Cebra Nay Margaret M. Craven Yea Philip A. Curtis Nay John L. Martin Yea H. Sawin Millett Jr. Nay Ann E. Peoples Yea Anne C. Perry Yea Joseph C. Perry Sr. Yea John L. Tuttle Nay