Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6072, sub-§5-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 138, §4, is further amended to read:

5-A. Department site review. Prior to the lease hearing, the department shall conduct an assessment of the proposed site and surrounding area to determine the possible effects of the lease on commercially and ecologically significant flora and fauna, possible aesthetic impact created by any activity authorized by the lease, possible impact on property values for property from which the activities authorized by the lease can be seen and conflicts with traditional fisheries. This review must take place any time between April 1st and November 15th. This information must be provided to the intervenors and made available to the public 30 days before the hearing. As part of the site review, the department shall request information from the municipal harbor master about designated or traditional storm anchorages in proximity to the proposed lease. The commissioner may by rule establish levels of assessment appropriate to the scale or potential environmental risk posed by a proposed lease activity. The rules must provide a method of establishing a baseline to monitor the environmental effects of a lease activity. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that the Department of Marine Resources include an assessment of aesthetic impact and property value impact in its site review of aquaculture lease applications.