An Act To Address Decibel Level Limits for Airboats
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §380 and affected by §422, is amended to read:
(1) A noise level of 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary sound level test with and without cutouts engaged and as prescribed by the commissioner; or
(2) A noise level of 75 decibels when subjected to an operational test measured with and without cutouts engaged and as prescribed by the commissioner.
As used in this paragraph, "motorboat" does not include an "airboat," which has the same meaning as in paragraph A-1.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10, ¶A-1 is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. Collection of information. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources jointly shall solicit and collect information regarding airboats, including, but not limited to, information regarding uses of airboats, noise levels and complaints and suggestions for reducing complaints regarding the use of airboats, from interested parties, including, but not limited to, harbor masters, town clerks and residents of coastal towns and airboat users and sellers. Based on the suggestions, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Commissioner of Marine Resources may submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature to implement whatever suggestions the commissioners determine are necessary. As used in this section, "airboat" means a flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft engine or an automotive engine.
summary
This bill exempts airboats, which are defined as flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft engine or an automotive engine, from the noise level limits imposed on other watercraft. Instead, this bill allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish noise level limits for airboats by routine technical rules.
This bill also requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources to jointly solicit and collect information regarding airboats, including uses of airboats, noise levels and complaints and suggestions for reducing complaints regarding the use of airboats, from interested parties, such as harbor masters, town clerks and residents of coastal towns and airboat users and sellers. Based on the suggestions, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Commissioner of Marine Resources are authorized to submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature to implement whatever suggestions the commissioners determine are necessary.