128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 820		LR 1442(02)
	An Act To Protect Maine's Clean Water and Taxpayers from Mining Pollution
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium revenue increase - General Fund Potential future biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Potential future biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Potential future biennium revenue increase - Municipalities
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill authorizes final adoption of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) mining rules if certain changes are made to the rule. DEP's costs related to making changes to the rule are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. DEP may incur costs in the future related to approving applicants for a mining permit and engaging in certain oversight activities. The extent of costs to DEP will depend on the number of applicants and the activities they engage in, but these costs are expected to be covered by mining fees. Under current statute, applicants are required to pay an initial processing fee not to exceed $500,000 and an annual license fee between $20,000 and $50,000 that will be directed to the Metallic Mining Fund within DEP. No estimate is made at this time on the number of mining applicants. Any additional costs to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission for rulemaking are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
	If applicants are approved, mining excise tax revenues would be received.  Under current statute, the revenue would reimburse municipalities and unorganized territories for at least 50%, and if sufficiently available 100%, of the property tax revenue loss suffered by that municipality or unorganized territory as a result of property tax exemptions created under the mining excise tax statute.  25% of any remaining revenues would be paid to DEP for oversight of mining activity and 75% would be deposited to the General Fund.  No estimate has been made at this time of the amount of mining excise tax revenues that might be generated.