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PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
Second Special Session of the 121st

CHAPTER 573
S.P. 634 - L.D. 1702

An Act To Provide for Department of Marine Resources Jurisdiction Over Certain Sections of the State's Endangered Species Program

     Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

     Whereas, certain marine resources of the State are in need of protection; and

     Whereas, the Department of Marine Resources is uniquely qualified to ensure the protection of marine species; and

     Whereas, the Department of Marine Resources needs clear authority over the State's endangered and threatened marine species to obtain federal funding for the protection of those species; and

     Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

     Sec. 1. 12 MRSA c. 631 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 631
ENDANGERED OR THREATENED MARINE SPECIES

§6971.   Commissioner's authority over marine endangered and threatened species

     In accordance with section 12801, the commissioner has authority as provided in this chapter to carry out the purpose of that section with regard to marine species.

§6972. Commissioner's programs

     The commissioner may establish such programs as are necessary for the protection of marine species listed pursuant to this chapter in order to achieve compliance with the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, as amended.

§6973.   Designation of marine species as state endangered or state threatened

     1. Commissioner's authority. The commissioner may recommend a marine species found in the State for designation as a state endangered or state threatened marine species if that species is listed as an endangered or threatened species by the United States Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, as amended.

     2. Modification to list. The commissioner may recommend that a marine species designated as a state endangered or state threatened species be removed from the list in section 6975 or recommend other changes to that list.

     3. Public notice and hearings. Prior to recommending an addition, deletion or other change to the list of state endangered and state threatened marine species in section 6975, the commissioner shall provide for public notice and public hearings on that proposed recommendation in accordance with the provisions of Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2.

§6974. Legislative authority

     The Legislature has sole authority to designate a marine species as a state endangered or state threatened species or to remove a species or change the designation of a species listed in section 6975.

§6975.   List of state endangered and state threatened marine species

     The list of state endangered or state threatened marine species by common name, scientific name and status is as follows:

     1. Right whale. Right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, endangered;

     2. Humpback whale. Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, endangered;

     3. Finback whale. Finback whale, Balaenoptera physalus, endangered;

     4. Sperm whale. Sperm whale, Physeter catodon, endangered;

     5. Sei whale. Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis, endangered;

     6. Leatherback turtle. Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, endangered;

     7. Atlantic ridley turtle. Atlantic ridley turtle, Lepidochelys kempii, endangered; and

     8. Loggerhead turtle. Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, threatened.

§6976. Cooperative agreements

     The commissioner may enter into agreements with federal agencies, other states, state agencies, political subdivisions of this State or private persons for the establishment and maintenance of programs for the conservation of state endangered or state threatened marine species and may receive all federal funds allocated for obligations to the State pursuant to these agreements. Federal funds received for the conservation of state endangered or state threatened marine species listed pursuant to this chapter must be allocated directly to the department to ensure compliance with any conditions of the listing.

§6977. Annual report

     The commissioner shall submit a written report by January 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters describing the status of all current and planned programs, activities and rules of the department pertaining to the conservation or management of state endangered or state threatened marine species. The commissioner shall notify the Legislature by January 1st of each year that the report has been delivered.

     Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7751, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is amended to read:

§7751. Declaration of purpose

     The Legislature finds that various species of fish or wildlife have been and are in danger of being rendered extinct within the State of Maine, and that these species are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the people of the State. The Legislature, therefore, declares that it is the policy of the State to conserve, by according such protection as is necessary to maintain and enhance their numbers, all species of fish or wildlife found in the State, as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend.

     This subchapter and chapter 631 are established to carry out the purposes of this section.

     Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §7753, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 290, §1, is further amended to read:

     3. Legislative authority. The Legislature, as sole authority, shall designate a species as state endangered or state threatened species. The list of state endangered or state threatened species is as follows:

     Common Name

     Scientific Name

     Status

     Least Tern

     Sterna albifrons

     Endangered

     Golden Eagle

     Aquila chrysaetos

     Endangered

     Piping Plover

     Charadrius melodus

     Endangered

     Sedge Wren

     Cistothorus platenis

     Endangered

     Grasshopper Sparrow

     Ammodramus savannarum

     Endangered

     Box Turtle

     Terrapene carolina

     Endangered

     Black Racer

     Coluber constrictor

     Endangered

     Roseate Tern

     Sterna dougallii

     Endangered

     Northern Bog
Lemming

     Synaptomys borealis

     Threatened

     Loggerhead Turtle

     Caretta caretta

     Threatened

     Blanding's Turtle

     Emydoidea blandingii

     Endangered

     Black Tern

     Chlidonias niger

     Endangered

     American Pipit

     Anthus rubescens

     Endangered

     Peregrine Falcon

     Falco peregrinus

     Endangered

     Flat-headed Mayfly

     Epeorus frisoni

     Endangered

     Ringed Boghaunter

     Williamsonia lintneri

     Endangered

     Clayton's Copper

     Lycaena dorcas claytoni

     Endangered

     Edwards' Hairstreak

     Satyrium edwardsii

     Endangered

     Hessel's Hairstreak

     Mitoura hesseli

     Endangered

     Katahdin Arctic

     Oenis polixenes katahdin

     Endangered

     Spotted Turtle

     Clemmys guttata

     Threatened

     Bald Eagle

     Haliaeetus leucocephalus

     Threatened

     Razorbill

     Alca torda

     Threatened

     Atlantic Puffin

     Fratercula arctica

     Threatened

     Harlequin Duck

     Histrionicus histrionicus

     Threatened

     Arctic Tern

     Sterna paradisaea

     Threatened

     Upland Sandpiper

     Bartramia longicauda

     Threatened

     Swamp Darter

     Etheostoma fusiforme

     Threatened

     Tidewater Mucket

     Leptodea ochracea

     Threatened

     Yellow Lampmussel

     Lampsilis cariosa

     Threatened

     Tomah Mayfly

     Siphlonisca aerodromia

     Threatened

     Pygmy Snaketail

     Ophiogomphus howei

     Threatened

     Twilight Moth

     Lycia rachelae

     Threatened

     Pine Barrens
Zanclognatha

     Zanclognatha martha

     Threatened

     Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §7754, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 290, §2, is amended to read:

     4. Annual report. The commissioner shall submit a written report by January 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters describing the status of all current and planned programs, activities and rules of the department pertaining to the conservation or management of endangered or threatened species. When appropriate, this report may be combined with any transplantation report required under subsection 1, paragraph D. The commissioner shall notify the Legislature by January 1st of each year that the report has been delivered.

     Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §12801, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read:

§12801. Declaration of purpose

     The Legislature finds that various species of fish or wildlife have been and are in danger of being rendered extinct within the State of Maine, and that these species are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the people of the State. The Legislature, therefore, declares that it is the policy of the State to conserve, by according such protection as is necessary to maintain and enhance their numbers, all species of fish or wildlife found in the State, as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend.

     This subchapter and chapter 631 are established to carry out the purposes of this section.

     Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §12803, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

     3. Legislative authority. The Legislature, as sole authority, shall designate a species as a state endangered or state threatened species. The list of state endangered or state threatened species by common name, scientific name and status is as follows:

     Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12804, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. D, §7, is amended to read:

     4. Annual report. The commissioner shall submit a written report by January 1st of each year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters describing the status of all current and planned programs, activities and rules of the department pertaining to the conservation or management of endangered or threatened species. When appropriate, this report may be combined with any transplantation report required under subsection 1, paragraph D. The commissioner shall notify the Legislature by January 1st of each year that the report has been delivered.

     Sec. 8. Effective date. Those sections of this Act that amend the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, sections 12801 and 12803 take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature.

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

Effective March 24, 2004, unless otherwise indicated.

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