Resolve, To Adjust Composting Limits for Fanns
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0969
Committee Amendment CA_B_H197 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "E" to H.P. 713, L.D. 969, "Resolve, To Adjust 
Composting Limits for Fanns" 
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 facility is operated in accordance with a compost management plan approved by the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources' 
Amend the resolve in section 1 in the last line (page 1, line 6 in L.D,) by striking out 
the following: "2-A." and inserting the following: '2-A; and be it further' 
Amend the resolve by inserting after section I 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, referred to in this 
section as "the departments," shall review agricultural compo sting 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 departments shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and 
Natural Resources no later than January 3, 2012 with recommendations for statutory 
changes needed to clarify or enhance oversight of agricultural composting operations by 
the Department 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, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'~" to H.P. 7l3, L.D. 969 
animal bedding and other vegetative waste and produce and other vegetable and food 
waste. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the 
Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources may report out a bill 
during the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature pertaining to oversight of 
agricultural composting operations.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to 
amend its rules to increase the maximum cubic yards of Type IB and Type IC residuals 
that a farm may compost in any 30-day period to 60 cubic yards instead of 100 cubic 
yards as proposed in the resolve. 
It directs the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the 
Department of Environmental Protection to review exemptions from licensing that are 
contingent on operating in accordance with a compost management plan approved by the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. The 2 departments are directed to 
report to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the 
Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources no later than January 
3, 2012 with recommendations for any statutory changes needed to clarify or enhance 
oversight of agricultural composting operations by the Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources. It authorizes the 2 legislative committees to report out a bill in the 
FISCAL .\OT; :LVlIKI::.U 
(See ~ttached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/03111 
WaC': 
LD969 
LR 1621(03) 
Resolve, To Adjust Composting Limits for Farms 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment B" 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Minor revenue decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to amend its composting rules, to review agricultural 
composting operations that are exempt from licensing as solid waste facilities and to report back to the Legislature 
regarding recommendations for statutory changes will result in minor increased costs that DEP can absorb within 
existing budgeted resources. The amended rules may exempt certain facilities from licensing and regulatory 
requirements resulting in a minor revenue decrease to DEP. Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources associated with reviewing exempt organizations and reporting recommendations can be absorbed 
with existing staff and within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1621(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1