Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §590-F is enacted to read:

§590-F.__Health and air quality assessment

1.__Mandatory testing.__Every 7 years, the department shall conduct and complete a comprehensive health and air quality assessment of an affected community adjacent to a privately owned incineration facility.

2.__License.__The department may not issue a license under section 590 to a privately owned facility operating an incinerator to burn municipal solid waste, refuse-derived fuel or special waste unless the department has certified that the facility does not present or pose a verifiable health threat to an affected community.

3.__Cost.__The cost of a health and air quality assessment under this section is borne by the incineration facility.

4.__Manner of testing and review.__The department, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services or any other department or agency of the State the department considers necessary, shall conduct the following review and testing:

A.__Analysis of medical and death records from care providers, hospitals, cancer registries, institutions and patients in affected communities to determine if illness anomalies or patterns exist;

B.__Interviews with hospital administrators, care providers and other similarly situated individuals to gather additional verifiable data regarding community health and risk factors;

C.__Air sampling within affected communities at certain points for solids, particles, toxins, air pollutants and air contaminants to determine if a risk of illness or injury exists in such communities;

D.__Soil sampling within affected communities to determine whether incinerators are emitting solids, particles, toxins, air pollutants or air contaminants that pose a risk of contamination;