This legislation created a program to address threats posed to the inland waters of the State by invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species. The program is implemented through the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The bill required those departments to conduct in 2001 a program that includes a substantial public education component combined with at least 5,000 person hours spent inspecting boats, motors and trailers for invasive aquatic plants at selected boat launching facilities and at no fewer than 10 roadside locations at or near the state border. In 2002 and subsequent years, the actual level of inspections will be determined by those departments in consultation with the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, established in the bill.
In addition to the education and inspection components of the program, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are authorized to jointly issue emergency orders to restrict or prohibit the use of any watercraft on all or a portion of a water body that has a confirmed infestation of an invasive aquatic plant. Such orders must be for a specific period of time and may be issued only when the use of watercraft on that water body threatens to worsen or spread the infestation. If the infested water body is a public drinking water supply, public notification and opportunity for comment is required prior to taking any response action that proposes the use of a chemical control agent.
The bill also prohibits the operation of a motorboat or personal watercraft on inland fresh waters after January 1, 2002 unless that motorboat or personal watercraft displays a lake and river protection sticker on both sides of the bow. The fee for the sticker is $10 for Maine registered boats and $20 for out-of-state motorboats. The sticker will be available statewide through all agents authorized by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to register boats or sell hunting and fishing licenses. The agents retain $1 from the sale of each sticker. The remaining revenues from the stickers are divided between new funds in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Environmental Protection to be used for education, inspection and enforcement efforts related to the control of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species, either directly or through grants to public or private entities. Forty percent of the revenues from the stickers are allocated to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and 60% of the revenues are allocated to the Department of Environmental Protection.
The bill also created the 17-member Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species with the responsibility of advising the Land and Water Resources Council on various actions to control invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species and to recommend a state plan to address those threats.
The bill also directed the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than January 15, 2002, on the invasive aquatic plant education and inspection program conducted during the 2001 boating season and on plans for that program for 2002 and subsequent years (Report). The bill authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources to report out legislation on invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species to the Second Regular Session of the 120th Legislature.
