An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Working Group
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1419
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: MARTIN, PIEH, NUTTING, SHERMAN, EBERLE, EDGECOMB, JACKSON, KOFFMAN, LUNDEEN, MAREAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §1891-A, 12 MRSA §1891-B

Legislative Document 
No. 1419 
S.P.497 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Allagash 
Wilderness Waterway Working Group 
(EMERGENCY) 
March 15, 2007 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MARTIN of Aroostook. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative PIEH of Bremen and Senators: NUTTING of Androscoggin, 
SHERMAN of Aroostook, Representatives: EBERLE of South Portland, EDGECOMB of 
Caribou, JACKSON of Allagash, KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor, LUNDEEN of Mars Hill, 
MAREAN of Hollis. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Governor John E. Baldacci established the Allagash Wilderness 
Waterway Working Group by executive order in June 2006 and the recommendations of 
the working group were presented to the Governor on February 8, 2007; and 
Whereas, certain recommendations will aid in the long-term governance, 
management and oversight structure for this vital resource and will help to bring stability, 
peace and prestige to its management; and 
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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRS A §12004-I, sub-§3-D is enacted to read: 
3-D. 
Conservation 
Allagash 
Wilderness 
Waterway 
Advisory Council 
Expenses/Legislati ve 
per diem 
Sec. 2. 12 MRS A §1891 is enacted to read: 
§1891. Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council; established 
MRS A §1891 
There is established the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council, referred to 
in this section as "the council," pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 3-D. 
1. Duties. The council shall: 
A. Meet at least twice annually; 
B. Work with the manager of the waterway in developing and maintaining a strategic 
plan for the waterway and advancing the mission and goals of the waterway; and 
C. 
Report annually to the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands regarding the 
state of the waterway and at other times as it is determined necessary by the council. 
2. Members. The council consists of 7 members including: 
A. One representative of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service; 
B. One public member; 
Page I - 123LR2537(Ol)-1 
C. One member with knowledge and experience in sustainable forest management 
who is a private landowner, or an employee of the landowner, whose holdings abut 
the waterway; 
D. One member with knowledge and experience in wilderness recreation; 
E. One member with knowledge and experience in natural resources planning and 
management; 
F. One member with knowledge and experience in fisheries or wildlife conservation; 
and 
G. One member with knowledge and experience in cultural and historic preservation. 
The members shall annually elect a chair from among the members. The chair is 
responsible for scheduling, preparing the agenda of and presiding at meetings. 
3. Appointment. The Governor shall appoint the 6 members described in subsection 
2, paragraphs B to G. The Governor shall invite the ~ortheast Regional Director of the 
National Park Service within the United States Department of the Interior to designate the 
member described in subsection 2, paragraph A. 
4. Terms. Council members serve terms of 5 years and may serve no more than 2 
terms. 
Sec.3. 12 MRSA §1891-A is enacted to read: 
§1891-A. Allagash Wilderness Waterway Permanent Endowment Fund 
The Treasurer of State shall establish a dedicated, nonlapsing account called the 
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Permanent Endowment Fund and shall manage the 
account as a state-held trust. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the commissioner 
may accept funds from any source and may accept gifts in trust to be credited to the 
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Permanent Endowment Fund. Interest earned on 
investments in the fund must be credited to the fund. With the advice of the Allagash 
Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council under section 1891, the director may expend 
money from the fund for purposes consistent with section 1871 and an approved 
waterway management plan. 
Sec.4. 12 MRSA §1891-B is enacted to read: 
§1891-B. Reporting 
The commissioner shall annually report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters regarding the state of the 
waterway, including its mission and goals, administration, education and interpretive 
programs, historic preservation efforts, visitor use and evaluation, ecological conditions 
and natural character enhancements, general finances, income, expenditures and balance 
of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Permanent Endowment Fund, the department's 
annual budget request for the waterway operation in the coming fiscal year and current 
challenges and prospects for the waterway. 
Sec. 5. Management as separate region. The Department of Conservation shall 
administer and manage the Allagash Wilderness Waterway as a separate region within the 
Bureau of Parks and Lands. 
Sec. 6. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, 
section 1891, subsection 4 and in order to ensure a certain level of continuity of service 
on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council, the Commissioner of 
Conservation shall, in making the initial appointments for the advisory council, appoint 2 
members to 3-year terms, 2 members to 4-year terms and 2 members to 5-year terms. The 
legislative committee approval requirements of Title 12, section 1891, subsection 3 apply 
to initial and subsequent appointments. An initial term of 3 or 4 years is considered a full 
term for purposes of calculating the term limitation in Title 12, section 1891, subsection 
4. 
Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
CONSERVATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Advisory Council 
Initiative: Allocates for the per diem of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory 
Council. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2007-08 
$1,925 
$1,925 
2008-09 
$1,925 
$1,925 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establisht:s an independent advisory council to represent the public interest 
in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and to provide counsel to the manager of the 
waterway and the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of 
Conservation. The bill elevates the status of the waterway in the department by making it 
a separate region within the bureau. It creates an endowment fund to support capital 
acquisitions and improvements, historic, cultural and educational programs and facilities. 
The bill requires an annual report by the Commissioner of Conservation to the 
Legislature.