An Act To Restore Regular Mapping of Eelgrass Beds in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0559
Committee Amendment CA_A_H48 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 403, L.D. 559, Bill, "An Act To 
Restore Regular Mapping of Eelgrass Beds in the State" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in section 1805 by striking out all of subsections 1 and 2 
and inserting the following: 
'1. Eelgrass Mapping Fund. The Eelgrass Mapping Fund is created within the 
department as a nonlapsing dedicated fund to support the establishment and 
administration of the eelgrass mapping program required under this section. The fund 
may accept revenue from grants, bequests, gifts or contributions from any source, public 
or private. 
2. Mapping schedule. The mapping of eelgrass beds required under this section 
must be conducted in accordance with the following schedule. 
A. No later than November 1, 2020, mapping must be completed for that portion of 
the coast from St. George to Brooklin and must be updated every 5 years thereafter. 
B. No later than November 1, 2021, mapping must be completed for that portion of 
the coast from Brooklin to Jonesport and must be updated every 5 years thereafter. 
C. No later than November 1, 2022, mapping must be completed for that portion of 
the coast from Jonesport to Calais and must be updated every 5 years thereafter. 
D. No later than November 1, 2023, mapping must be completed for that portion of 
the coast from Kittery to Phippsburg and must be updated every 5 years thereafter. 
E. No later than November 1, 2024, mapping must be completed for that portion of 
the coast from Phippsburg to St. George and must be updated every 5 years 
thereafter.' 
Amend the bill by adding after section 1 the following: 
'Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations 
are made. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 403, L.D. 559 
Eelgrass Mapping Fund N302 
Initiative: Provides an allocation to accept grants, bequests, gifts or contributions from 
any source, public or private, to support the administration of the eelgrass mapping 
program. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Water Quality 0248 
2019-20 
$500 
$500 
2020-21 
$500 
$500 
Initiative: Provides appropriations for one Biologist II position and one Environmental 
Technician position and All Other costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Water Quality 0248 
2019-20 
2.000 
$107,250 
$6,050 
--
$113,300 
2020-21 
2.000 
$147,290 
$6,050 
$153,340 
Initiative: Provides appropriations for aerial imagery acquisition and processing and 
annual equipment maintenance and replacement. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2019-20 
$124,400 
$124,400 
2019-20 
$237,700 
$500 
· $238,200 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2020-21 
$117,500 
$117,500 
2020=21 
$270,840 
$500 
$271,340 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 403, L.D. 559 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
;k 
SUMMARY 
This amendment creates the Eelgrass Mapping Fund to support the establishment and 
administration of the eelgrass mapping program required under the bill and authorizes the 
fund to accept grants, bequests, gifts or contributions from any source, public or private. 
The amendment also revises the mapping schedule for the mapping of eelgrass beds as 
proposed in the bill and adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 03/22/19 ?dac.. 
LD559 
LR 905(02) 
An Act To Restore Regular Mapping of Eelgrass Beds in the State 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'~' ( /-1-7'8) 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2019-20 
$237,700 
$237,700 
$500 
FY 2020-21 
$270,840 
$270,840 
$500 
Projections 
FY2021-22 
$220,259 
$220,259 
$500 
Projections 
FY2022-23 
$246,310 
$246,310 
$500 
This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Marine 
Resources (DMR), to establish and implement an eelgrass mapping program and publicly disseminate data and 
mapping information. 
The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Bureau of Water Quality within the DEP of $113,300 in fiscal 
year 2019-20 and $153,340 in fiscal year 2020-21 for one Biologist II position and one Environmental Technician 
position and associated All Other costs and $124,400 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $117,500 in fiscal year 2020-21 to 
collect aerial imagery, process maps, disseminate findings and maintain or replace equipment. The bill also includes 
ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $500 starting in fiscal year 2019-20 to establish the Eelgrass 
Mapping Fund to allow acceptance of grants, bequests, gifts or contributions to support the program from any source, 
public or private. 
Any additional costs to the DMR to consult with the DEP are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR0905(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1