CHAPTER 236
H.P. 1112 - L.D. 1555
An Act to Create the River Flow Advisory Commission within the Department of Defense and Veterans' Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§13-D is enacted to read:
Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §1080 is enacted to read:
§1080. Establishment of commission
1. Establishment of commission. The River Flow Advisory Commission, as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 13-D and referred to in this section as the "commission," shall act as a technical advisory commission to the Department of Defense and Veterans' Services and the Governor's office on issues of flow of the State's rivers and streams. The commission shall also facilitate communication of river flow data between dam operators, river basin managers, state agencies, the United States Geological Survey and the National Weather Service during floods and droughts and shall administer the State's hydrologic monitoring program in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey.
2. Membership. The commission is composed of these members:
A. The Commissioner of Defense and Veterans' Services or the commissioner's designee;
B. The State Geologist or the State Geologist's designee;
C. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the commissioner's designee;
D. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee;
E. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the commissioner's designee;
F. The Commissioner of Marine Resources or the commissioner's designee;
G. The Director of the State Planning Office or the director's designee;
H. The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee;
I. The District Chief of the United States Geological Survey Water Resources Division Maine District Office;
J. The Meteorologist-in-Charge of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in this State or the designee of the Meteorologist-in-Charge;
K. Representatives from the major hydroelectric power generators, as determined by the cochairs of the commission; and
L. A representative of the public, appointed by the Governor.
3. Chair. The District Chief of the United States Geological Survey Water Resources Division Maine District Office and the Commissioner of Defense and Veterans' Services or the commissioner's designee shall act as cochairs of the commission.
4. Terms of office. The term of office of the public member is 5 years. The public member may be removed from office for cause by the Governor. Members from State Government or Federal Government shall serve a term coincident with their governmental position. The term of a representative from the major hydroelectric power generators is 5 years.
5. Voting. A quorum of at least 7 members must be present for voting.
6. Administrative provision. The Maine Emergency Management Agency shall administer the affairs and activities of the commission.
7. Records. The commission shall keep accurate records of its proceedings and shall file them with the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
8. Compensation. Members of the commission are not entitled to receive compensation.
9. Meetings. The commission shall meet at least once per calendar year at the call of either of the cochairs to review hydrologic conditions prior to the spring snowmelt and runoff for the purpose of issuing an advisory statement on the potential for major river flooding. Either of the cochairs may call additional meetings as needed.
10. Powers and duties. The commission has the power and duty only to:
A. Advise the Department of Defense and Veterans' Services and the Governor on issues of flow within the State's rivers and streams;
B. Assist in communication of river flow data between dam operators, river basin managers, state agencies and federal agencies; and
C. Administer the State's cooperative hydrologic monitoring program in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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