Resolve, To Prohibit the Discharge of Certain Wastewater into Casco Bay
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1271
Committee Amendment CA_A_H207 (House)
Committee: Natural Resources, an environmental advocacy organization, a marine trade association, the marina industry, the Vnited States Coast Guard, a group representing the interests of saltwater recreational boaters, the boatbuil

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~,, to H.P. 943, L.D. 1271, "Resolve, 
To Prohibit the Discharge of Certain Wastewater into Casco Bay" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Res9lve, To Study the Implementation of a Plan To Prohibit the 
Discharge of Certain Wastewater into Coastal Waters' 
Further amend the resolve by striking out everything after 
the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; 
and 
until 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, 
this 
resolve 
directs 
the 
Department 
of 
Environmental Protection to develop a 
plan for prohibiting or 
regulating the discharge of sewage and gray water from vessels 
into the coastal waters of the State; and 
Whereas, this resolve is necessary as 
to afford adequate 
time for 
the issues 
addr~ssed by the department; and 
Page l-LRI062(2) 
an emergency measure 
to 
be 
appropriately 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
J-. 
~ ~~. 
f;L~'~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Iff/;. to H.P. 943, L.D. 1271 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. 
Stakeholder group established. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Department 
of 
Environmental 
Protection 
shall 
convene 
a 
stakeholder 
group to assist the 
department 
in developing 
a 
recommended plan for prohibiting or regulating the discharge of 
sewage and gray water from vessels into the coastal waters of the 
State. 
The stakeholder group must be convened no later than 30 
days after the effective date of this resolve; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: 
That the 
department shall 
invite a marine biologist, an oceanographer and a harbor master 
and a representative of each of the following interested parties 
to participate in the stakeholder group: 
the Joint Standing 
Committee 
on 
Natural 
Resources, 
an 
environmental 
advocacy 
organization, 
a marine trade association, the marina industry, 
the Vnited States Coast Guard, a group representing the interests 
of saltwater recreational boaters, the boatbuilding industry, the 
commercial fishing industry including lobstermen and shellfish 
harvesters, the aquaculture industry, the tourism industry, the 
hotel industry, an organization whose mission is to protect Casco 
Bay, 
a 
group 
representing the Maine petroleum industry, 
the 
marine 
terminal 
industry 
and 
other 
interested 
parties 
as 
determined by the department; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: 
That the Department of Environmental 
Protection, 
with 
the 
assistance 
of 
the 
stakeholder 
group 
established pursuant to section 2, shall develop a 
recommended 
plan for prohibiting or regulating the discharge of sewage and 
gray water from vessels into the coastal waters of the State. 
The department shall, at a minimum, hold one meeting in Portland 
with the stakeholder group and one meeting in Bar Harbor with the 
stakeholder group. 
The department shall include in its review 
the following: 
1. 
The issues identified in Legislative Document 1158, "An 
Act to Protect Maine's Coastal Water" of the 12lst Legislature; 
.2. 
The 
benefits 
and detriments 
to 
identifying certain 
watets in Casco Bay as no-discharge zones prior to applying to 
the United States Environmental Protection Agency for designation 
of up to 50 significant harbors or bays in the territorial waters 
of the State as nO-disCharge zones pursuant to Public Law 1999, 
chapter 655; 
3. 
A process for determining the boundaries of those waters 
that should be designated as no-discharge zones; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. f{.. to H.P. 943, L.D. 1271 
4. 
The 
parameters 
for 
the 
regulation 
of 
gray 
water, 
including vessel weight and vessel passenger capacity: and be it 
further 
Sec. 
4. 
Report. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Department 
of 
Environmental 
Protection shall 
submit 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee on Natural Resources no later than November 1, 2003 a 
recommended 
plan, 
including 
any 
legislation 
necessary 
to 
implement the plan, for prohibiting or regulating the discharge 
of sewage and gray water from vessels into the coastal waters of 
the State; and be it further 
Sec. 5. 
Funding. 
Resolved: 
That, 
pursuant 
to 
the 
Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 38, 
section 351, 
the Commissioner of 
Environmental Protection may seek and accept outside funds to 
advance the work in developing a 
recommended plan pursuant to 
this resolve. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve. 
The amendment requires 
the 
Department 
of 
Environmental 
Protection 
to 
convene 
a 
stakeholder 
group 
and 
to 
develop 
a 
recommended 
plan 
for 
prohibiting or regulating the discharge of sewage and gray water 
from vessels into the coastal waters of the State. 
Under the 
amendment, the department must submit the recommended plan to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources by November 1, 
2003. 
The amendment also adds an emergency preamble 
and an 
emergency clause. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04116/03 ~ac::.. 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1271 
Resolve, To Study the Implementation of a Plan to Prohibit the 
Discharge of Certain Wastewater into Coastal Waters 
LR 1062(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR1062(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1