PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Prohibit the Aerial Spraying of Glyphosate and Other Synthetic Herbicides for the Purpose of Silviculture’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §606, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Aerial spraying of glyphosate and other synthetic herbicides.     A person may not conduct an aerial application of glyphosate or other synthetic herbicides for the purpose of silviculture, including reforestation, regeneration or vegetation control after any timber harvest.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 555, §10, is amended to read:
 
1. Standards for regeneration after harvests.   The commissioner shall adopt rules to ensure adequate regeneration of commercial tree species on a site within 5 years of completion of any timber harvest. Rules to implement this requirement shallmust include identification of commercial tree species, minimum stocking standards and, methods to mitigate inadequate regeneration and a prohibition on the aerial application of glyphosate or other synthetic herbicides pursuant to Title 7, section 606, subsection 3. In developing regeneration standards, the commissioner shall take into consideration regional differences in forest types, tree species and physiographic conditions.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §8869, sub-§7-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 542, §5, is further amended to read:
 
7-A. Exemption for outcome-based forestry areas.   An outcome-based forestry area designated under section 8003, subsection 3, paragraph Q is exempt from the requirements of this section if specifically exempted in the agreement establishing the outcome-based forestry area. The agreement may not provide an exemption from the prohibition on the aerial application of glyphosate or other synthetic herbicides pursuant to Title 7, section 606, subsection 3.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, strikes and replaces the bill. The amendment prohibits the aerial application of glyphosate or other synthetic herbicides for the purpose of silviculture, including reforestation, regeneration or vegetation control after a timber harvest.