Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §410-N, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Fund to mitigate invasive aquatic plant problems in public water supplies.__The public water supply invasive aquatic plant mitigation fund, referred to in this subsection as the "fund," is established in the department to assist municipalities in controlling invasive aquatic plant populations that pose a threat to municipal surface drinking water supplies.__Financial assistance to municipalities under this subsection is subject to availability of funding.__The board shall adopt rules to implement the fund. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Sec. 2. Recommendation on sources of funding. The Department of Environmental Protection shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources by January 15, 2002 with recommendations on sources of funding to fund the public water supply invasive aquatic plant mitigation fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 410-N, subsection 4.

SUMMARY

This bill creates a fund within the Department of Environmental Protection to assist municipalities in controlling invasive aquatic plants that threaten municipal surface drinking water supplies. Financial assistance to municipalities under this program is subject to availability of funding. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources by January 15, 2002 with recommendations on sources of funding for this fund.