Resolve, To Increase Wetland Protection Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the ti tIe and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: Sec. 1. Tier 1 freshwater wetland alteration permitting; report. Resolved: That 'the Department of Environmental Protection shall evaluate the resources necessary to apply all the standards in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 480-D to projects eligible for Tier 1 freshwater wetland review. The department's evaluation must include consideration of cumulative impacts, staff time, regulatory processing time, fees and the benefits of applying all the standards to Tier review. The department shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources with any recommendations, including proposed legislation, by February 1, 2006. The department's recommendations may not jeopardize any current single permit review process. The Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources is authorized to report out legislation related to the department's evaluation to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature; and be it further Sec. Resolved: work 2. Freshwater wetland compensation proposal; report. That the Department of Environmental Protection shall Page l-LRl052(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1160
Committee Amendment CA_A_H315 (House)
Committee: Natural Resources is authorized to report out legislation regarding th

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A, to H.P. 803, L.D. 1160, Bill, "An 
Act To Increase Wetland Protection" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, To Increase Wetland Protection' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
ti tIe and before the 
summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Tier 1 freshwater wetland alteration permitting; report. 
Resolved: That 'the Department of Environmental Protection shall 
evaluate the resources necessary to apply all the standards in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 480-D to projects 
eligible for Tier 1 freshwater wetland review. 
The department's 
evaluation must 
include 
consideration 
of 
cumulative 
impacts, 
staff time, regulatory processing time, fees and the benefits of 
applying all the standards to Tier 
review. 
The department 
shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources 
with 
any 
recommendations, 
including 
proposed legislation, 
by 
February 
1, 
2006. 
The 
department's 
recommendations 
may 
not 
jeopardize any current single permit review process. 
The Joint 
Standing Committee on Natural Resources is authorized to report 
out legislation related to the department's evaluation to the 
Sec. 
Resolved: 
work 
2. 
Freshwater wetland 
compensation 
proposal; 
report. 
That the Department of Environmental Protection shall 
Page l-LRl052(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A 
.. to H.P. 803, L.D. 1160 
wi th the Executive Department, State Planning Office and other 
interested parties to develop a proposal for a freshwater wetland 
compensation program for freshwater wetlands that require a Tier 
review process, to review the wetlands exemptions contained in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter 1, 
article 
5-A. 
and 
to 
recommend 
changes 
to 
ensure 
adequate 
protection of regulated freshwater wetlands. 
The Department of 
Environmental 
Protection shall report to 
the Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Natural 
Resources 
on 
its 
proposal 
and 
recommendations 
by 
February 
1, 
2006 
and 
submit 
proposed 
legislation to implement the recommendations. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee 
on Natural 
Resources 
is 
authorized to 
report out 
legislation regarding 
the 
department's 
report to 
the 
Second 
Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the bill to a resolve and removes 
those sections of the bill that propose to: 
1. 
A.pply all standards of the natural resources protection 
laws to Tier 1 freshwater wetlands; 
2. 
Require the Department of Environmental Protection, in 
Tier 1 freshwater wetland review, 
to consider impacts to the 
wetland from other regulated activities that occurred during the 
prior year; and 
3. 
Extend the time the department has to review Tier 1 
applications. 
The 
amendment 
replaces 
those 
sections with 
a 
reporting 
requirement requiring the Department of Environmental Protection 
to evaluate the resources necessary to apply all standards in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, 
section 480-D 
to projects 
eligible for Tier 1 review and to report to the Joint Standing 
Committee 
on 
Natural 
Resources with any 
recommendations 
and 
proposed legislation by February 1, 2006. 
It also authorizes the 
committee to report out legislation to the Second Regular Session 
of the 122nd Legislature. 
The amendment also changes a report 
date from January 1, 2006 to February 1, 2006. 
FISCAL :\OT1:: Rt<JlIH.ED 
(See attach~d) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/06/05 ;ft;f?ac:.. 
LD 1160 
LR 1052(02) 
An Act To Increase Wetland Protection 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,4" 
Committee: Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
LRI052(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1