FISCAL NOTE

The Department of Conservation will incur some minor additional costs to adopt certain rules pertaining to timber harvesting and submit the required report. These costs can be absorbed within the department's existing budgeted resources.

SUMMARY

This bill, which is the minority report, directs the Commissioner of Conservation to adopt rules to establish statewide standards for timber harvesting activities in areas adjacent to rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands and tidal waters. It requires the rules to retain standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection under the laws relating to mandatory shoreland zoning and natural resources protection when those standards are consistent with standards established by the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. It authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over forestry matters to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 120th Legislature to amend statutes administered and enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission pertaining to timber harvesting activities.