122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1091 LR 1783(01)
An Act To Provide Adequate Funding for the Enforcement of Envionmental Laws
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. Lerman of Augusta
Committee: Natural Resources
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
   
             
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $195,000 $195,000 $195,000 $195,000
Revenue
General Fund ($195,000) ($195,000) ($195,000) ($195,000)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Requiring all fines collected for all environmental criminal and civil violations pursuant to 38 MRSA section 349 be paid to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection will result in a loss of revenue to the General Fund of approximately $195,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and 2006-07.  This estimate is based on the projected fine and penalty revenue budgeted by the Department of Environmental Protection, of which $20,000 would come from Remediation and Waste Management violations, $100,000 from Land and Water Quality violations and $75,000 from Air Quality violations.  The actual level of fines going to the General Fund vary and a significant compliance and enforcement case can distort these collections.  This legislation also requires this revenue received by the department must be applied to expenses of enforcement.