124th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 229 LR 250(02)
An Act To Promote Clean Waters in the State
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Natural Resources
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Exempted
2009-10 2010-11 Projections 2011-12 Projections 2012-13
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $98,684 $100,563 $51,241
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $99,267 $196,524 $196,524
Transfers
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $0 $0 $0
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requiring a municipality or public utility to implement a procedure, which may include creating a master plan and associated engineering designs, to cease discharge of untreated sewage, may be a mandate under the Consitituion of Maine. Public Utility
Municipality
Significant statewide
Pursuant to inclusion of the mandate preamble, a 2/3 vote of each House exempts the State from the requirement that it fund 90% of the cost of the mandated activities. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from issuing a license to discharge untreated sewage to any water of the State beginning January 1, 2013. Any Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) municipality must meet the new deadline or lose state-municipal revenue sharing funds. In order for the DEP to provide the anticipated intensive assistance needed by the local units of government to comply with the deadline a limited period full time position and associated costs will be required. It is anticipated that municpalities or public utilities will borrow funds to finance the sewage treatment upgrades from the State Revolving Fund.  The DEP receives a fee of 3.5% of the annual debt service related to those loans. The DEP will transfer funds for certain indirect costs from the program to DEP's administrative account.  Any additional costs to the Office of the State Treasurer associated with the Clean Water Act can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.