Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §6072, sub-§11, as amended by PL 1987, c. 453, §1, is further amended to read:

11. Monitoring and revocation of leases. The lease department shall be monitored by the department monitor a lease under this section on an annual basis. If substantially no research or aquaculture has been conducted within the preceding year, or if it aquaculture has been conducted in a manner substantially injurious to marine organisms, if no substantial aquaculture or research has been conducted over the course of the lease or if any other condition of the lease has been violated, the commissioner shall may initiate revocation proceedings and may revoke the lease. A lease revocation shall be is an adjudicatory proceeding under the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter IV 4. A The department shall hold a hearing with public notice shall be held prior to revoking any lease.

Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §6072, sub-§12, as amended by PL 1997, c. 609, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

12.__Renewal.__The__commissioner shall renew a lease if:

A.__The commissioner receives, at least 90 days prior to the termination of a lease, an application for renewal that includes information on the type and amount of aquaculture to be conducted during the new lease term;

B.__The lessee has complied with the lease agreement during the term of the lease;

C.__The commissioner determines that renewal of the lease is in the best interest of the State;

D.__The renewal will not cause the lessee to become a tenant of any kind in leases covering an aggregate of more than 250 acres; and

E.__The lease is not being held for speculative purposes.

When aquaculture has not been routinely or substantially conducted on a lease that is proposed for renewal, the commissioner may renew the lease, as long as the proposed renewal will continue to meet the criteria for approval in subsection 7- A.

A lease renewal is an adjudicatory proceeding under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4.__Public notice must be given as