This bill makes changes to several sections of the marine resources laws that regulate the leasing and monitoring of public waters for aquaculture. These changes affect the issuance of standard and limited-purpose aquaculture leases.

1. It clarifies that the existing exclusive jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Marine Resources to regulate aquaculture activities on state submerged lands below the mean low-water mark includes all types of equipment to be located within a standard aquaculture lease. Language is also proposed to allow qualified staff to sign lease documents following the approval of a standard lease by the commissioner.

2. It repeals a provision on municipal approval and enacts new language concerning municipal participation in the standard aquaculture lease process.

3. It creates a new section that outlines the role of municipalities in the review and issuance of standard aquaculture leases, including preapplication meetings, submission of comments to the Department of Marine Resources on all decision criteria and establishing conditions on leases. This new section contains provisions already located in other relevant laws that are included here for clarity as well as new provisions that expand the scope of municipal participation in the leasing of state waters. This section also clarifies that the issuance of a mooring permit by a municipality is not preempted by the Commissioner of Marine Resources' exclusive authority to grant aquaculture leases.

4. It creates a requirement for a preapplication meeting to be held with the Department of Marine Resources to guide an applicant in preparing an application for a standard lease.

5. It removes language requiring the Department of Marine Resources to determine financial and technical capacity prior to conducting a public hearing on a standard lease application so that public comment can be received on this approval criterion. It also deletes language on municipal involvement that has been moved to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6072, subsection 3-A.

6. It changes language to expand the factors considered by the Department of Marine Resources in the site review of proposed standard aquaculture leases to conform with current practice.