LD 1643
pg. 4
Page 3 of 6 An Act To Clarify and Harmonize State Policy on Groundwater Management Page 5 of 6
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LR 2288
Item 1

 
Services' drinking water program, the Maine Geological Survey and
the Executive Department, State Planning Office, in consultation
with a project steering committee. The work group shall propose
and the council shall review and approve both the composition of
the project steering committee and a public outreach plan designed
to ensure appropriate opportunity for public comment. The project
steering committee must include members of the public with
expertise in relevant fields of interest, including, but not
limited to, agriculture, public water utilities, groundwater law
and water bottling and sale.

 
Sec. C-3. Staffing assistance. The Maine Geological Survey shall
provide staff services to the council and serve as lead agency
for purposes of management of the study at the council's
direction.

 
Sec. C-4. Issues to be considered. In developing its recommendations,
the council shall:

 
1. Identify and review provisions under the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 12, chapter 206-A; Title 22, chapter 601; and
Title 38, chapter 3, article 6, any other pertinent state laws
that may trigger state regulation of a proposed withdrawal of
groundwater;

 
2. Review existing geological, hydrogeological and other
related scientific information regarding Maine's groundwater
resources in order to assess the efficacy of existing state law
for ensuring that withdrawal of groundwater does not have an
undue adverse effect on waters of the State as defined by Title
38, section 361-A, subsection 7; water-related natural resources;
and existing uses, including, but not limited to, public or
private wells, within the anticipated zone of contribution to the
withdrawal;

 
3. Identify and assess criteria that should influence whether
and how the State regulates or otherwise manages withdrawal of
groundwater, including, but not necessarily limited to, the
following:

 
A. The quantity of proposed withdrawal;

 
B. The hydrogeologic characteristics of the aquifer in
which the proposed withdrawal will take place;

 
C. The duration of the proposed withdrawal;

 
D. The size of the land parcel on which the withdrawal
occurs;


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