Whereas, the ability of municipalities to control surface use of waters within the municipality is an essential part of the current law; and

Whereas, the Second Special Session of the 118th Legislature enacted a provision in Public Law 1997, chapter 739, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Great Pond Task Force, to allow municipalities to submit recommendations regulating the use, operation and type of watercraft on great ponds in the jurisdiction of the municipality; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to be enacted prior to the beginning of the summer; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7801, sub-§35 is enacted to read:

35.__Illegally operating personal watercraft in prohibited area.__A person is guilty of operating a personal watercraft in a prohibited area if that person:

A.__Operates a personal watercraft on Mud Pond, Oversett Pond, South Pond, Round Pond, Twitchell Pond, Hicks Pond or Furlong Pond in the Town of Greenwood in Oxford County;

B.__Operates a personal watercraft on North Pond or Bryant Pond, also known as Christopher Lake, in the Town of Greenwood and the Town of Woodstock in Oxford County;

C.__Operates a personal watercraft on Concord Pond, Little Concord Pond or Shagg Pond in the Town of Woodstock in Oxford County;

D.__Operates a personal watercraft on Hamilton Pond in Bar Harbor in Hancock County; or

E.__Operates a personal watercraft on Bog Lake or Horseshoe Lake in the Town of Northfield in Washington County.