Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment

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ADVERTISE:  May 15, 2019 

AGENCY: 09-137 Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 13 – Watercraft Rules

BRIEF SUMMARY:  In accordance with Title 12 MRS, Section 13068-A (10), the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing rules to develop motorboat testing procedures to determine if operation is occuring at decibel levels higher than 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary test, or 75 decibels when subjected to an operational test. These rules are based on the national standard, SAE J 2005, that provide specific guidelines for testing of marine engines.  
A complete copy of the proposed rule is available by contacting the rulemaking contact person listed below. 

PUBLIC HEARING:  None scheduled

COMMENT DEADLINE: June 14, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact anticipated. STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 10104, 13051, 13068-A

AGENCY WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/ifw

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

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ADVERTISE:  May 8, 2019 

AGENCY: 09-137 Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 16 – Hunting (16.06, 16.12, 16.13)

BRIEF SUMMARY:  The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing amendments to hunting laws as they apply to submission of tooth and tissue samples when registering a bobcat. Otter and bobcat are governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and must be registered and tagged by Department staff. To standardize requirements across species the Department is also proposing that all bobcat harvested by hunting be registered within 10 days. An amendment to furbearing animal possession, transportation and registration requirements will allow someone the ability to gift unregistered coyote pelts to someone else for registration and utilization of the pelt. To comply with newly enacted legislation, season dates for upland game hunting of certain species has been modified to begin on the last Saturday in September. A complete copy of the proposed rule is available by contacting the rulemaking contact person listed below.   

PUBLIC HEARING:  Wednesday, May 29, 2019 @ 5:30pm, Augusta Armory, Room 209, 179 Western Avenue, Augusta
 
COMMENT DEADLINE: June 10, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING:  Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact anticipated. STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 10104, 10954, 12301-A

AGENCY WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/ifw

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

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ADVERTISE:  May 8, 2019 

AGENCY:  09-137  Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE:  Chapter 17 – Trapping (17.03, 17.06, 17.07)

BRIEF SUMMARY:The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing changes to trapping rules to include the following: amend the definition of a covered float, extend the beaver trapping season in southern Maine by 15 days, add specified property in Fort Fairfield to the beaver closures in WMD 6, and adjust the muskrat trapping season to coincide with beaver trapping. In an effort to standardize requirements across species the Department is also proposing that all bobcat harvested by hunting and otter taken in beaver traps from January 1 to April 30 be registered by Department staff within 10 days of harvest.  A lower canine may be submitted when presenting a bobcat for registration. An amendment to possession of pelts without fur registration tag requirements will allow someone the ability to gift unregistered coyote pelts to someone else for registration and utilization of the pelt. A complete copy of the proposed rule can be obtained from the rulemaking contact person listed below.

Date, time and location of PUBLIC HEARING: May 29, 2019 @ 5:30pm - Augusta Armory, Room 209B,  79 Western Avenue, Augusta

COMMENT DEADLINE:  June 10, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING:  Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: No fiscal impact anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 10104, 12251

AGENCY WEBSITE:  www.maine.gov/ifw 

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON:  Becky.Orff@maine.gov

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ADVERTISE:  May 22, 2019

AGENCY:  09-137  Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE:  Chapter 1 – Open Water and Ice Fishing Regulations

BRIEF SUMMARY:  The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been petitioned to consider the following change to fishing regulations: CONROY LAKE, Monticello (North Region). General fishing laws apply, except: B, CI. S-19. Open to open water fishing from October 1 - November 30: ALO, S-7. If adopted, the rule would open Conroy Lake to ice fishing under the B season code, January 1 – March 31.

PUBLIC HEARING:  June 13, 2019 @ 5:30pm -  Shiretown Inn & Suites, 282 North Street, Houlton, ME

COMMENT DEADLINE:  June 24, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING:  Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES (if any): No fiscal impact anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 10104

AGENCY WEBSITE:  www.maine.gov/ifw 

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON:  Becky.Orff@maine.gov

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ADVERTISE:  May 29, 2019

AGENCY:  09-137  Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE:  Chapter 16.07 – Deer Hunting (4.A.)(6.)

BRIEF SUMMARY:  The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to adopt antlerless deer permit (ADP) numbers for the 2019 regular deer hunting season and special muzzle-loading season by setting specific permit allocations for the 29 Wildlife Management Districts (WMD) as follows:

WMD

# of Permits

WMD

# of Permits

WMD 1

0 permits

WMD 17

8,200 permits

WMD 2

25 permits

WMD 18

125 permits

WMD 3

25 permits

WMD 19

0 permits

WMD 4

0 permits

WMD 20

6,000 permits

WMD 5

0 permits

WMD 21

8,250 permits

WMD 6

100 permits

WMD 22

9,700 permits

WMD 7

0 permits

WMD 23

9,750 permits

WMD 8

 25 permits

WMD 24

6,400 permits

WMD 9

25 permits

WMD 25

7,900 permits

WMD 10

0 permits

Subunit 25a

270 bonus permits

WMD 11

0 permits

WMD 26

325 permits

WMD 12

 0 permits

Subunit 26a

200 bonus permits

WMD 13

0 permits

WMD 27

25 permits

WMD 14

25 permits

WMD 28

25 permits

WMD 15

3,150 permits

WMD 29

1,500 permits

WMD 16

6,100 permits

 

 

 

 

TOTAL PERMITS: 68,145

In addition to annual ADP recommendations, the Department is also recommending issuance of bonus antlerless deer permits in two subunits, Subunit 25a and 26a. These additional permits will allow for additional opportunity to harvest deer in areas experiencing elevated levels of Lyme disease, deer-vehicle collisions and public complaints about deer.  A complete copy of the proposal may be requested by contacting the Agency Contact Person listed below.

PUBLIC HEARING:  Thursday, June 20, 2019 @ 5:30pm – Augusta Armory, Room 209, 179 Western Avenue,
Augusta 
COMMENT DEADLINE:  July 1, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING:  Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395; e-mail: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES (if any): No fiscal impact anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS 11152, 11401

AGENCY WEBSITE:  www.maine.gov/ifw 

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON:  Becky.Orff@maine.gov

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ADVERTISE: May 29, 2019

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 1. Open Water and Ice Fishing Regulations

BRIEF SUMMARY: The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing a change to the General Law for fishing regulations in the North Region (Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook, and northern portions of Oxford and Penobscot Counties) to further protect wild trout waters, including tributaries and outlets of heritage ponds in the North Region. This proposed rule is an amended version of a previous proposal advertised on February 27, 2019. Based on public comment received during the previous comment period, the rule is being re-advertised with a refined list of exceptions. The current proposal will prohibit use and possession of live fish as bait, except where designated by special rule, reducing the chance of new introductions of baitfish and other fish in the vast majority of flowing waters, dead-waters and small ponds in the North Region. The majority of waters with traditional use of live fish as bait will continue to allow such use under this proposal by addition of a special code. A new section in General Law titled “Terminal Gear” is also being proposed. The list of affected waters and amended General Law may be obtained from the Agency Contact Person below or online at: http://www.maine.gov/ifw  If adopted, the proposal will become effective January 1, 2020. Members of the public are encouraged to review the proposal and provide comments by either attending the public hearing or submitting written comments by mail or email to the contact person for this filing.  Written comments received are considered equally to testimony given at the public hearing.

DATE AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING: June 17, 2019 @ 4:00pm – Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Augusta

COMMENT DEADLINE:  June 27, 2019

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, #41 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333; becky.orff@maine.gov

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: None anticipated.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: 12 MRS Sections 10104, 12453, 12454

AGENCY WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/ifw

E-MAIL FOR OVERALL AGENCY RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Becky.Orff@maine.gov

(An Excel spreadsheet, containing the water lists above, is available upon request by emailing becky.orff@maine.gov)

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