TIMES RECORD • April 26, 2021
Airboats, used by clammers who make their living on the mudflats, have drawn the ire of residents due to the noise they generate. Mainers Against Coastal Noise Pollution are looking to the Legislature to curb the noise. On Monday, a Legislative committee unanimously approved an amended bill that limits airboat noise at 90 decibels from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Airboat noise must drop to 75 decibels from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. However, airboat operators may exceed those limits when accelerating to launch their airboat or free themselves if they get stuck in the mud. State and municipal airboats are exempt from these limits. Clammers want local residents and shellfish harvesters to find “reasonable and rational standards” for how loud airboats can be.