An Act To Facilitate the Creation of the Maine Water Trust To Regulate and Protect Maine's Water Supply and To Ensure the Quantity and Quality of Maine's Drinking Water
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0422
Committee Amendment CA_A_H94 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004, 5 MRSA §6307

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "IJ" to H.P. 302, L.D. 422, Bill, "An Act To 
Facilitate the Creation of the Maine Water Trust To Regulate and Protect Maine's Water 
Supply and To Ensure the Quantity and Quality of Maine's Drinking Water" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create the Water Resources Planning Committee' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA Pt. 15-C is enacted to read: 
PART 15-C 
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE 
CHAPTER357 
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE 
§6307. Water Resources Planning Committee 
1. 
Water Resources Planning Committee. 
The Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestty shall convene the Water Resources Planning Committee, 
referred to in this subsection as "the committee." 
A. The committee's membership must include, at a minimum: 
(1) Personnel from: 
(a) The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forest1y, Bureau of 
Resource Information and Land Use Planning, Division of Geology, Natural 
Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine Geological Survey; 
(b) The Public Utilities Commission; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" t) " 
to H.P. 302, L.D. 422 
(c) The Department of Environmental Protection; 
(d) The Maine Land Use Planning Commission; and 
( e) The drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human 
Services; and 
(2) Members of the public with expertise in: 
(a) Agriculture; 
(b) Public water utilities; 
(c) Water bottling and the sale of bottled water; 
(d) The use of water by private domestic well owners; 
( e) The environment and conservation; and 
(f) The use of water by commercial entities. 
B. The committee shall meet at least quarterly and report annually to the Depattment 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestty, beginning in August 2018. The committee 
shall plan for the sustainable use of water resources, focusing on the following 3 
phases: 
(1) In the first phase, the committee shall focus on: 
(a) 
Collecting and reviewing infotmation regarding water withdrawal 
activities; 
(b) Coordinating state water resources information; and 
(c) Identifying watersheds at risk by refining the most recent analysis of 
watersheds at risk performed by the Bureau of Resource Information and 
Land Use Planning, Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal 
Resources, Maine Geological Survey, including: 
(i) Conducting appropriate water resources investigations in watersheds 
at risk; 
(ii) 
Considering projected increased water use by population, 
agricultural irrigation, commercial users, industrial users and other users; 
(iii) Considering seasonal use; 
(iv) Considering potential effects of climate change; 
(v) 
Considering the effects of anticipated future water quality 
classification changes on the availability of water for withdrawal; 
(vi) In establishing priorities for further investigations, seeking input 
from the user community, from towns dealing with multimunicipal 
aquifers and from towns with significant local aquifers; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "fa "to H.P. 302, L.D. 422 
(vii) Developing guidelines for consistency in further investigations; 
(2) In the 2nd phase, the committee shall focus on convening planning groups 
with respect to particular watersheds at risk or regions encompassing multiple 
watersheds at risk to develop water use management guidance for water 
withdrawals. Based on the needs of the individual watershed or region, planning 
group participants must be drawn from: 
(a) Personnel from: 
(i) 
The Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, 
Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine 
Geological Survey; 
(ii) The Public Utilities Commission; 
(iii) The Department of Environmental Protection; 
(iv) The Maine Land Use Planning Commission; 
(v) The drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human 
Services; and 
(vi) The Depatiment oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife; and 
(b) Members of the public with expertise in: 
(i) Agriculture; 
(ii) Public water utilities; 
(iii) Water bottling and the sale of bottled water; 
(iv) The environment and conservation; 
(v) Aquaculture; 
(vi) Business and commerce; 
(vii) Industrial water use; and 
(viii) Municipal government; and 
(3) In the 3rd phase, if oversubscription of water use remains after the 2nd phase, 
the committee shall recommend a process to resolve issues. 
On a schedule determined by the committee, the committee shall repeat the 3 phases 
outlined in this paragraph. 
C. The committee shall conduct annual reviews of state policy with regard to: 
(1) Conservation of water resources; 
(2) Development of regional sources and solutions to water use issues; 
(3) Incentives for stewardship of water resources; and 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,;J "to H.P. 302, L.D. 422 
. (4) Effects of surface water quality improvements on water withdrawal 
opportunities. 
D. The committee shall provide guidance to municipalities and water districts and 
develop and disseminate educational materials on water resources and the regulatory 
regime. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-1, sub-§68-C is enacted to read: 
68-C. 
Natural Resources Water Resources 
Not Authorized 
Planning Committee 
MRSA §6307 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority rep01t of the committee and it replaces the bill and 
changes the title. The amendment requires the Depaitment of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry to convene the Water Resources Planning Committee. The amendment 
describes requirements related to committee membership, meetings and repo1ting. It 
details 3 phases on which the committee is required to focus effort. It also requires the 
committee to conduct an annual review of state policy in regard to water resources, 
provide guidance to municipalities and develop and disseminate educational materials on 
water resources and the regulatory regime. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/20/17 Mac. 
LD422 
LR 553(02) 
An Act To Facilitate the Creation of the Maine Water Trust To Regulate and Protect Maine's Water 
Supply and To Ensure the Quantity and Quality of Maine's Drinking Water 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Cominittee Amendment ~ 
.. (_;J· 11 
· 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Public Utilities Commission, 
the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Health and Human Services to participate in the 
Water Resources Planning Committee are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR0553(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1