Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6072-A, sub-§§5 and 7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 231, §6, are amended to read:

5. Notice of application. The commissioner shall provide notice of a limited-purpose lease application to owners of riparian land upon which the limited-purpose lease activity would take place and to within 1,000 feet of the proposed location of the lease and to the municipal officers of the municipality in which the limited-purpose lease activity would take place. The commissioner shall publish a summary of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed for a limited-purpose lease. A person may provide, within 30 days of receipt of notice or within 30 days of publication of a limited- purpose lease summary, the commissioner comments on the proposed limited purpose limited-purpose lease.

7. Notice of public hearing. The commissioner shall provide notice of a public hearing to owners of riparian land upon which limited-purpose lease activity would take place and to within 1,000 feet of the proposed location of the lease and to the municipal officers of the municipality in which the limited- purpose lease activity would take place. The commissioner shall publish notice of a public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed for a limited-purpose lease at least 30 days before the hearing.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources to notify the owners of land that is located within 1,000 feet of the proposed location for an aquaculture lease of any application and notice of hearing for that lease as well as the municipal officers of the affected municipality.