Whereas, it is important that citizens be given a fair opportunity to address testimony and evidence presented at the Department of Marine Resources' hearing; 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 §6072, sub-§5-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 138, §4, is further amended to read:

5-A. Department site review. Prior to the lease hearing, the department shall conduct an assessment of the proposed site and surrounding area to determine the possible effects of the lease on commercially and ecologically significant flora and fauna and conflicts with traditional fisheries. This review must take place any time between April 1st and November 15th June 15th and September 15th. This information must be provided to the intervenors and made available to the public 30 days before the hearing. As part of the site review, the department shall request information from the municipal harbor master about designated or traditional storm anchorages in proximity to the proposed lease. The commissioner may by rule establish levels of assessment appropriate to the scale or potential environmental risk posed by a proposed lease activity. The rules must provide a method of establishing a baseline to monitor the environmental effects of a lease activity. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6072, sub-§6, ķE is enacted to read:

E.__The commissioner shall accept further evidence and testimony from citizens and interested parties for 10 days following the completion of the hearing.__The commissioner may accept further evidence and testimony from citizens and interested parties for a period beyond 10 days following the conclusion of the hearing if agreed to by the parties or as specified by the presiding officers.__For purposes of this paragraph, "presiding officer" means the person authorized by any interested state agency to act on behalf of the agency at that hearing.