Sec. 6. Recommendations; inspections of subsurface wastewater disposal systems. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Human Services shall develop recommendations for requiring inspections of subsurface wastewater disposal systems at the time of real estate transfers. The recommendations must include requirements for inspection of any system that is more than 20 years old or that lacks documentation of the system design and location, provisions for certifying system inspectors and provisions regarding responsibility for paying for a mandatory inspection. In developing the recommendations, the departments shall consult with interested parties. The departments shall submit a report with their recommendations and any implementing legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters by January 15, 2001. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters may report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 120th Legislature relating to inspections of subsurface wastewater disposal systems.

Sec. 7. Real Estate Commission rulemaking. The Real Estate Commission shall amend its rules relating to real estate brokerage standards of practices to provide that the requirements in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 33, section 173, subsections 3 and 6 apply to the transfer of any interest in residential real property, whether by sale, exchange, installment land contract, lease with an option to purchase or any other option to purchase, when the transaction is conducted with the assistance of a person licensed to practice real estate brokerage. Such rules are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill implements the recommendations of the Department of Environmental Protection relating to measures to reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve water quality. The bill amends the natural resources protection laws to require a permit for the cutting or removal of vegetation, other than for farming or forest management activities, within 25 feet of small mapped streams. The bill requires that sellers of residential real property and real estate brokers disclose additional information regarding subsurface wastewater disposal systems and information regarding land use laws affecting property located within the shoreland zone. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Human Services to