An Act To Create the Water Resources Planning Committee
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0199
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: SYLVESTER, JACKSON, BEEBE-CENTER, DOORE, DUNPHY, HICKMAN, MADIGAN, MAXMIN, RISEMAN
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 5 MRSA §6401

Legislative Document
No. 199
H.P. 162
House of Representatives, January 17, 2019
An Act To Create the Water Resources Planning Committee
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SYLVESTER of Portland.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, DOORE of Augusta, DUNPHY of Old 
Town, HICKMAN of Winthrop, MADIGAN of Waterville, MAXMIN of Nobleboro, 
McCREIGHT of Harpswell, RISEMAN of Harrison.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA Pt. 15-C is enacted to read:
PART 15-C
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE
CHAPTER 357
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE
§6401.  Water Resources Planning Committee
1.
Water Resources Planning Committee.  The Water Resources Planning
Committee, as established in section 12004-I, subsection 68-C and referred to in this 
subsection as "the committee," is established in the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry.
A.  The committee's membership must include, at a minimum:
(1)  Personnel from:
(a)  The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of 
Resource Information and Land Use Planning, Division of Geology, Natural 
Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine Geological Survey;
(b)  The Public Utilities Commission;
(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;
(f)  The use of water by commercial entities;
(g)  Water advocacy; and
(h)  Water conservation education.
B.  The committee shall meet at least quarterly and report annually to the Department 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, beginning in August 2020. 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 information regarding water withdrawal 
activities;
(b)  Coordinating state water resources information;
(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
(vii)  Developing guidelines for consistency in further investigations; and
(d)  Developing a strategy for protecting and managing groundwater 
resources in this State if worldwide clean water resources are threatened;
(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 Department of Inland 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
(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-I, sub-§68-C is enacted to read:
68-C.   
SUMMARY
This bill estsablishes the Water Resources Planning Committee within the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.  The bill describes requirements 
related to committee membership, meetings and reporting. 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.
Natural Resources Water Resources 
Planning Committee
Not Authorized
MRSA §6401