124th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1573		LR 2264(01)
	An Act To Improve Water Quality through the Phaseout of Overboard Discharges and the Improvement of the Boat Pump-out Laws
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Pingree of North Haven
	Committee: Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Future biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to pay, subject to the availability of funds, a portion of the cost of converting overboard discharge systems to waste-reducing alternative systems if certain criteria are met.  The DEP estimates that if 40% of the existing 1350 OBDs have alternative systems at an average cost of $25,000 each and the state share is 65%, the total cost of these grants would be approximately $8,775,000.  Typically, state participation in costs of this nature have been paid from bond proceeds.  Currently, available bond proceeds are limited and no provision is made in this bill for a new bond issue.  As a result, additional legislation will be required to create a bond issue or provide a General Fund appropriation to fund these costs.  In separate legislation LD 1816 proposes $500,000 in bonds for overboard discharge.