123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 2284		LR 3589(01)
	An Act Regarding the Regulation of Agricultural Composting Operations
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Sen. Sherman of Aroostook
	Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$88,457	$91,173	$94,074
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$88,832	$91,548	$94,449
Revenue
	General Fund		$0	$375	$375	$375
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	($2,000)	($2,000)	($2,000)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation transfers responsibility for the licensing of 10 composting facilities per year from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.  With this change certain composting facilities will no longer require a DEP license, resulting in a loss of approximately $2,000 each year in annual licensing fees to the Maine Solid Waste Management Fund.
	The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources will require a General Fund appropriation of $88,832 in fiscal year 2008-09 for an Agriculture Compliance Supervisor, travel, technology and other costs to register and oversee commercial agricultural compost operations.  The Department estimates that registration fees will increase General Fund revenues by $375 beginning in fiscal year 2008-09.