An Act To Modify the Mining Excise Tax
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §2856-A is enacted to read:
§ 2856-A. Water quality surtax
In addition to the tax imposed under section 2856, there is imposed on a mining company a water quality surtax. The surtax is $1 per gallon of groundwater and surface water contaminated in the process of mining.
1. Calculation of water contaminated. The quantity of water contaminated is calculated by multiplying the ratio of added contamination level attributable to mining to the acceptable limit of contamination for public drinking water by:
A. For groundwater, the geologically calculated aquifer volume of the aquifer contaminated by mining; or
B. For surface water, the volume of yearly precipitation on the mine site measured as water volume.
2. Multiple contaminants. In the case of multiple contaminants, the ratio of contamination pursuant to subsection 1 is determined by using the factors attributable to the contaminant that result in the greatest water quality surtax.
summary
This bill establishes an annual water quality surtax on water contamination resulting from mining. The tax is equal to $1 per gallon of groundwater and surface water that is contaminated adjusted to reflect the degree of contamination resulting from mining activities.