Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1471-E, as repealed and replaced by PL 1979, c. 281, §1, is amended to read:

§1471-E. Aquatic application, permit required

No A person shall may not apply or cause to be applied a pesticide to the waters of the State without obtaining a waste discharge license from the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter I 1, Article 2. The Department of Environmental Protection may issue an emergency waste discharge license for the application of herbicides and pesticides to enable prompt response to an invasive aquatic plant infestation.__The Board of Environmental Protection shall adopt rules to implement this section.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to issue emergency waste discharge licenses for the application of herbicides and pesticides to enable prompt response to an invasive aquatic plant infestation. The bill also directs the Board of Environmental Protection to adopt routine technical rules.