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An Act To Prohibit Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Exploration
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §1862, sub-§14  is enacted to read:
 
14.  Prohibition on oil and natural gas exploration, development and production.     Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the director may not permit, approve or otherwise authorize any oil or natural gas exploration, development or production in, on or under the submerged and intertidal land owned by the State.
 
As used in this subsection, "development" has the same meaning as in Title 38, section 570-AA, subsection 1; "exploration" has the same meaning as in Title 38, section 570-AA, subsection 2; and "production" has the same meaning as in Title 38, section 570-AA, subsection 3.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 2-C  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 2-C
PROHIBITION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
§ 570-AA. Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Development.     "Development" means the activities conducted subsequent to the discovery of oil or natural gas resources to facilitate the production of those resources, including, but not limited to, geophysical activities, drilling, platform construction, pipeline construction and the operation of all onshore support facilities to support those activities.
 
2.  Exploration.     "Exploration" means the activities conducted to locate oil or natural gas resources, including, but not limited to, the drilling of wells for the purpose of locating and determining the size and scope of those resources.
 
3.  Production.     "Production" means the activities conducted subsequent to the development of oil or natural gas resources including, but not limited to, the removal or extraction of those resources, related field operations, the transfer of the resources to onshore facilities, workover drilling and the operation, monitoring and maintenance of the removal or extraction process.
§ 570-BB. Prohibition
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person may not perform or cause to be performed, and the department may not permit, approve or otherwise authorize, any oil or natural gas exploration, development or production in, on or under the waters of the State or that may adversely affect the waters of the State.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from performing or causing to be performed any oil or natural gas exploration, development or production in, on or under the waters of the State or that may adversely affect the waters of the State.
The bill also prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection and the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry from permitting, approving or otherwise authorizing any oil or natural gas exploration, development or production in, on or under the submerged and intertidal land owned by the State.
It is the intent of this legislation to generally prohibit activities relating to offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development and production within the boundaries and jurisdiction of the State, which place the State's coastal communities at economic and ecological risk from oil spills, and from the pollution caused by routine drilling operations and onshore industrialization, and threaten the quality of life and livelihoods of Maine citizens and economically significant industries, including tourism, recreation and commercial and recreational fishing, and small businesses that rely on a clean and healthy ocean and clean and healthy beaches.