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Amend the bill in section 1 in §6401 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in subparagaraph (1) by inserting after division (a) a new division to read:
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(b) The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Agricultural Water Management Board;
’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §6401 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in subparagaraph (1) by relettering the divisions to read alphabetically.
Amend the bill in section 1 in §6401 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in subparagraph (2) by striking out all of divisions (g) and (h) (page 1, lines 29 and 30 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
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(g) Water conservation education; and
 
(h) Stormwater management or wastewater management.
’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §6401 in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph B (page 1, lines 31 and 32, page 2, lines 1 to 38 and page 3, lines 1 to 14 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘B.  The committee shall meet at least quarterly and report annually to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, beginning in August 2020. The committee shall plan for the sustainable use of water resources. The committee shall focus on:
 
(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.
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment adds to committee membership personnel from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Agricultural Water Management Board and a member of the public with expertise in stormwater management or wastewater management. The amendment strikes the requirement that a member of the public with expertise in water advocacy serves on the committee The amendment strikes the requirement that the committee focus on developing a strategy for protecting and managing groundwater resources in this State if worldwide clean water resources are threatened. The amendment also strikes phases 2 and 3 in which the committee is required to focus effort.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)