Resolve, To Establish a Moratorium on Development in Saco Bay

Sec. 1. Moratorium adopted. Resolved: That the Legislature finds that the waters and coastal resources of Saco Bay represent an important and unique environmental and economic resource for the communities surrounding Saco Bay and that it is necessary to examine the adequacy of the regulatory structure for new uses affecting multiple municipalities. There is a moratorium for 18 months on the processing or issuance of new submerged lands leases for commercial projects by the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands and aquaculture leases by the Department of Marine Resources in any part of Saco Bay from Prouts Neck to East Point at Biddeford Pool and including islands in the bay; and be it further

Sec. 2. Working group established. Resolved: That the Town of Old Orchard Beach and the City of Saco may provide representatives to convene a working group to examine municipal boundaries, regulatory jurisdictions and parameters for future development in Saco Bay. If a working group is convened, the Legislature intends that the Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive Department or the director's designee be invited as well as representatives of the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands and any other departments that are determined appropriate. Representatives of the Town of Scarborough and the City of Biddeford must also be invited to participate in the working group; and be it further

Sec. 3. Working group report. Resolved: That, if a working group is established pursuant to section 2, it is authorized to submit a report on its findings related to municipal boundaries, regulatory jurisdiction and future development strategies in Saco Bay to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters no later than January 15, 2009; and be it further

Sec. 4. Authority to submit legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters is authorized to submit legislation concerning the moratorium and the working group's findings to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.