Dischargers who have reached their final total maximum daily load allocations as enforceable license limits may participate in the study, but may not be considered for additional control efforts until other dischargers and the owner of the dam on Gulf Island Pond have either reached their final allocations or implemented final mitigation efforts. It is the Legislature's intent that if the study undertaken pursuant to this section results in mitigation efforts that include alterations to the dam's operation in lieu of discharger reductions, not including effluent reductions that are required under a license or other agreement, the dam owner or operator will not be required to implement the alterations unless the dischargers compensate the dam owner for such alterations.

Sec. 7. Report to Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources. By February 1, 2006 and annually by that date until 2011, the Department of Environmental Protection shall submit a report on the status of activities undertaken pursuant to this Act to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters. The committee may report out legislation related to the annual report to the Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.