HP0304, LD 378, item 2, 125th Maine State Legislature , Amendment C "A", Filing Number H-75, Sponsored by
‘An Act To Allow the Transfer of Commercial Whitewater Rafting Trips under Extenuating Conditions’

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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Allow the Transfer of Commercial Whitewater Rafting Trips under Extenuating Conditions’
Amend the bill in section 1 in paragraph A by striking out all of subparagraph (3) (page 1, lines 30 to 38 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
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~~(3) Under high-water or low-water conditions on the West Branch Penobscot River, an emergency swap of an allocation may be made to the Kennebec River, as long as sufficient water is available there. Under no circumstances is a transfer of an allocation allowed from the Kennebec River to the West Branch Penobscot River.~~
’
 
(3-A) Under extenuating circumstances as determined by the commissioner, the commissioner may allow the emergency transfer of a commercial whitewater rafting trip from a rapidly flowing river to another rapidly flowing river as long as sufficient water is available in the river to which the commercial whitewater rafting trip is to be transferred. Notwithstanding subsection 3, the commissioner may allow the recreational use limits to be exceeded pursuant to this subparagraph. Under no circumstances is a transfer of a whitewater rafting trip allowed to the West Branch Penobscot River. The department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters regarding the implementation of this subparagraph.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment provides that the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife under extenuating circumstances may allow the emergency transfer of a commercial whitewater rafting trip from a rapidly flowing river to another rapidly flowing river as long as sufficient water is available in the river to which the commercial whitewater rafting trip is to be transferred. It also directs the department to report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters regarding the implementation of the emergency transfer of commercial whitewater rafting trips.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)

HP0304, Filing Number H-75, LR 1163, item 2,First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature, page