‘Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  Maine's lakes are a critical and essential component of Maine's natural environment, wildlife and human life; and

Whereas,  Maine's lakes generate in excess of $3,400,000,000 in revenue each year, provide employment for 52,000 people and underpin our increasingly important tourism economy; and

Whereas,  water quality in Maine's lakes, considered to have some of the highest water quality in the nation, has declined by as much as 20% since 1995 due to the introduction of phosphorus and other pollutants carried by eroded soils and storm water runoff from camp roads, driveways and lawns and from failing septic systems; and

Whereas,  in many communities waterfront properties generate 60% to 70% of the tax base and any decline in water quality will cause property values to drop by 15% to 20% and will shift the tax burden to nonwaterfront homeowners; and

Whereas,  scientific studies demonstrate that programs such as the LakeSmart program, which is a voluntary education and reward program for lakefront property owners who maintain their property in ways that protect lake water quality and property values, that keep phosphorus and other pollutants out of lakes are among the most cost-effective ways to protect lakes; and

Whereas,  scientific analysis of the data gathered through the efforts of volunteers throughout the State who participate in the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program is critical to the understanding of the current water quality of our lakes; and

Whereas,  the high-quality environmental training programs developed and offered by the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee are critical to ensuring that the best practices and techniques for water pollution control and water quality protection are implemented by environmental professionals throughout the State; and

Whereas,  this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to provide funding in fiscal year 2013-14 for the LakeSmart program, the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee and the management and analysis of data collected by the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF

Land and Water Quality 0248

Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2013-14 of $40,000 for the purpose of supporting the Maine Lakes Society in its implementation of the LakeSmart program, $20,000 for the purpose of managing and analyzing the data gathered by the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and $10,000 for the purpose of supporting the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee in its development and implementation of water pollution control, water quality protection and other environmental training programs.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$70,000	$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$70,000	$0

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’