Invasive plant law signed by governor

AUGUSTA – In the last session LD 1548 “An Act to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Plants and Protect Maine’s Lakes” was introduced by Rep. Jane Eberle (D-South Portland).

This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from issuing a permit to a bass club to conduct a bass tournament on a water body that has a confirmed infestation of an invasive aquatic plant. The bill also prohibits the use of a tank truck to withdraw or transport water from a water body that has a confirmed infestation of an invasive aquatic plant if the water is to be used in a pool or pond or for irrigation.

I was a cosponsor of this bill. Although I did not agree with the total concept of the bill the general idea was right on… we need to protect our lakes from the introduction of invasive species.

Before I talk about the bill let me set a baseline. We have many plants that are identified and yet still new ones are located each year. Each plant has it own habitat (place to live). Sometimes this plant can be moved by natural means or by man. Lake invasive species like milfoil (nasty green seaweed in a lake) have entered our state and gotten into some of our lakes through boats coming from infested areas. The legislature recognized the importance to stop this invasion by creating a sticker program for boats. The money collected helps educate the public about these nasty plants and how to stop the transfer to an uninfected lake. The program of courtesy boat inspectors you will find at many public landings are also supported in part by this sticker money.

All are concerned about this potential infestation taking over our lakes. BUT there was a perception that the effort could be better coordinated. That’s why I signed on to Representative Eberle’s bill and supported her efforts.

The bill itself was changed to a resolve. The resolve requires the following. This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that:

1. Directs the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to review all lakes in the State with known infestations of aquatic invasive plant species to determine the type, extent and location of each infestation and its proximity to boat access points and to gather other data about general use of those access points and the extent of local involvement. It also directs the departments to collaborate with lake associations and user groups to identify private boat ramps on lakes infested with aquatic invasive plant species;

2. Directs the Department of Environmental Protection to collect information on the types and extent of surface water extraction and review surface water extraction activities to determine in each case if an informational letter to the extractor regarding the spread of aquatic invasive plant species is necessary to prevent the introduction or spread of an aquatic invasive plant species through the surface water extraction process;

3. Directs the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to work cooperatively to increase the effectiveness of educational and outreach efforts;

4. Directs the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species by January 2, 2011 on matters contained in this resolve and to report on any new aquatic invasive plant species infestations identified;

5. Directs the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to facilitate the continued work of an aquatic invasive plant species working group. The working group shall continue its work exploring initiatives related to aquatic invasive plant species and collaborate with the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species;

6. Gives the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters authority to each submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature pertaining to matters contained in the report; and

7. Provides that the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife must meet the requirements in the resolve within existing resources but authorizes those departments to accept outside funding for purposes of the resolve.

Representative Eberle’s work was a success. The roll call vote was 145-0. The bill had true bipartisan support. I was proud to be a cosponsor.

Thank you for letting me serve you in the Legislature. If you have questions about this or anything else call me at 645-3420 or email me at drtom16@hotmail.com.