An Act To Create the Water Resources Planning Committee
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA Pt. 15-C is enacted to read:
PART 15-C
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE
CHAPTER 357
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMITTEE
§ 6401. Water Resources Planning Committee
(1) Personnel from:
(a) The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine Geological Survey;
(b) The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Agricultural Water Management Board;
(c) The Public Utilities Commission;
(d) The Department of Environmental Protection;
(e) The Maine Land Use Planning Commission; and
(f) The drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
(2) Members of the public with expertise in:
(a) Agriculture;
(b) Public water utilities;
(c) Water bottling and the sale of bottled water;
(d) The use of water by private domestic well owners;
(e) The environment and conservation;
(f) The use of water by commercial entities;
(g) Water conservation education; and
(h) Stormwater management or wastewater management.
(1) Collecting and reviewing information regarding water withdrawal activities;
(2) Coordinating state water resources information; and
(3) Identifying watersheds at risk by refining the most recent analysis of watersheds at risk performed by the Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine Geological Survey, including:
(a) Conducting appropriate water resources investigations in watersheds at risk;
(b) Considering projected increased water use by population, agricultural irrigation, commercial users, industrial users and other users;
(c) Considering seasonal use;
(d) Considering potential effects of climate change;
(e) Considering the effects of anticipated future water quality classification changes on the availability of water for withdrawal;
(f) In establishing priorities for further investigations, seeking input from the user community, from towns dealing with multimunicipal aquifers and from towns with significant local aquifers; and
(g) Developing guidelines for consistency in further investigations.
(1) Conservation of water resources;
(2) Development of regional sources and solutions to water use issues;
(3) Incentives for stewardship of water resources; and
(4) Effects of surface water quality improvements on water withdrawal opportunities.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§68-C is enacted to read:
Natural Resources | Water Resources Planning Committee | Not Authorized | 5 MRSA §6401 |