Sec. 40. 38 MRSA §1905, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 794, Pt. A, §11 and amended by PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. E, §32, is further amended to read:

1. Maps; coastal barriers identified. Maine's coastal barriers are identified on maps, available for public review, at the Department of Conservation, Natural Resources Information and Mapping Center Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas, Maine Geological Survey office in Augusta. They are referred to as the Maine Coastal Barrier Resources Systems and are numbered consistent with the United States Coastal Barriers Resource Act.

Sec. 41. 38 MRSA §2152, sub-§2, śC, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 585, Pt. A, §7 and amended by PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. E, §32, is further amended to read:

C. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Director of the Natural Resources Information and Mapping Center Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas shall serve as technical advisors to the board.

SUMMARY

This bill changes the name of the Natural Resources Information and Mapping Center to the Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas to more accurately reflect the responsibilities and duties performed by the center. The name change is also needed to distinguish the Maine Geological Survey and the Maine Natural Areas Program and identify which program serves on specific advisory boards. The bill also corrects an inconsistency in the statutes by moving the Natural Areas Program enabling statute from the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Department of Conservation, where it was moved by law in 1995.