Resolve, To Adjust Composting Limits for Fanus
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0969
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_A_H233 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT" 4' to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 713, 
L.D. 969, "Resolve, To Adjust Composting Limits for Fanus" 
Amend the amendment by inserting after the title the following: 
'Amend the resolve by inserting after the title the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, changes in compost management mles are needed as soon as possible for 
the current growing season; 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' 
Amend the resolve in section 1 in the 4th line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) by striking out 
the following: "100 cubic yards" and inserting the following: '60 cubic yards as long as 
the fann is operated in accordance with a compost management plan approved by the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources' , 
Amend the amendment by striking out all of section 2 (page I, lines 15 to 31 in 
amendment) and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and 
Department of Environmental Protection to examine operations requiring a 
compost management plan. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection shall review 
agricultural composting operations that are exempt from licensing as a solid waste facility 
under the Department of Environmental Protection Rules, Chapter 410, Section 1, 
Paragraph B, Subparagraphs (4), (5), (6) and (7). 
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Commissioner 
of Environmental Protection shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry no later than January .3. 2012 with recommendations for 
statutory changes needed to clarify or enh311cc oversight of agricultural composting 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE AMENDMENT "A'" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 713. L.D. 969 
operations by the DepaJimcnt of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. 
For the 
purposes of this section, "agricultural composting operations" means composting that 
takes place on fanns and uses only animal manure, animal carcasses and offal, fish waste, 
leaves, wood chips, animal bedding and other vegetative waste and produce and other 
vegetable and food waste. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may report 
out a bill during the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature pertaining to 
oversight of agricultural composting operations. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited III the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment requires the Department of Environmental Protection to amend its 
rules to increase the maximum cubic yards of Type TB and Type IC residuals that a fann 
may compost in any 30-day period to 60 cubic yards, instead of 100 cubic yards as 
proposed in the resolve, and requires that the fann be operated in accordance with a 
compost management plan approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection, in addition to the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, to review agricultural composting 
operations that are exempt from licensing as a solid waste facility under rules adopted by 
the Department of Environmental Protection. 
It directs the Commissioner of 
Environmental Protection, in addition to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources, to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry with recommendations regarding oversight of agricultural composting 
operations. The amendment also adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause. 
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SPONSORED BY; V~;J( -)"/&~k( 
(Representative HAMPER) 
TOWN: Oxford 
HOUSE AMENDMENT