Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §1874-A is enacted to read:

§1874-A.__Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council

1.__Appointment.__The Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council, established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 12-A and referred to in this section as the "council," consists of 7 members appointed by the Governor as follows:

A.__One representative of a regional sportsmen's group in Aroostook County;

B.__One representative of a regional sportsmen's group in Penobscot County or Piscataquis County;

C.__One resident of Piscataquis County;

D.__One resident of Aroostook County;

E.__One representative of a sportsmen's group with statewide membership;

F.__One guide or sporting camp owner who uses the waterway for commercial purposes; and

G.__One landowner or representative of a landowner with land in or adjacent to the waterway.

2.__Terms.__A member of the council serves for 3 years and continues serving until a successor is duly appointed and qualified.__When a vacancy occurs, the Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointing a member from the same category as the member who vacated the council and that member serves on the council for the remainder of the term.

3.__Compensation.__Council members serve without compensation.

4.__Purpose.__The council shall provide to the director advice and information on the management of and issues relating to the waterway.

5.__Chair and officers.__The council shall annually choose one of its appointed members to serve as chair for a one-year term.__ The council may select other officers and designate their

duties.__The director may not serve as chair or as an officer.

6.__Meetings.__The council shall meet at least 2 times a year.__ The council may also meet at other times at the call of the chair or the chair's designee or the director or the director's designee.

7.__Staffing.__The bureau shall provide staffing services to the council.

Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §1882, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended to read:

§1882. Access points and control stations

The bureau may determine the location of access points, control stations and watercourse crossings within the waterway. The bureau shall periodically review use of the access points authorized in this section.__The bureau may make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public lands matters concerning the establishment of additional or relocation of existing authorized access points within the waterway.__Location of access points, control stations and watercourse crossings within the waterway are not subject to review by or to the permitting requirements of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission.

1.__Access points authorized for year-round use by motor vehicles.__Access to the waterway by motor vehicle is authorized throughout the year at the following points:

A.__Chamberlain Thoroughfare Bridge;

B.__Churchill Dam;

C.__Umsaskis Lake Thoroughfare;

D.__Henderson Brook Bridge;

E.__Michaud Farm;

F.__Twin Brooks; and

G.__John's Bridge.

Notwithstanding this subsection, if the forestry industry eliminates a bridge at any point identified in paragraphs A to G, then access at that point is terminated.

2.__Access points authorized for winter use by motor vehicles and snowmobiles.__Access by snowmobiles, as defined in section 7821, and motor vehicles is authorized during the winter at the points recommended as access points in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Management Plan prepared by the bureau and approved by the commissioner in January of 1998.

3. Authorized land trails to access watercourse.__If an activity was listed as an allowed use of a trail in Table 8 of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Management Plan published by the bureau and approved by the commissioner in January of 1998, the bureau may not prohibit the activity on a trail in accordance with that plan.

SUMMARY

This bill removes land within the restricted zone of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway from oversight and permitting requirements of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. It establishes the Allagash Wilderness Advisory Council to advise the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands on issues relating to the waterway. It establishes in statute the authorized access points to the waterway.