Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §8883, sub-§1, ķI, as amended by PL 1997, c. 648, §5, is further amended to read:

I. A map locating the harvest site in relation to known or easily identifiable terrain features, such as a road junction or a stream and road junction. The map also must show the location of any site within the harvesting area that is known to the landowner or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, at the time notification under this section is provided, to serve currently or historically as the nesting site for a species listed as endangered or threatened in section 7753, subsection 3.__If no such sites are known, the landowner must indicate on the map that no such sites are known to exist within the harvesting area.__ This paragraph may not be construed to be a defense to any action for a violation of chapter 713, subchapter 5. The map must be a copy of a 7.5 or 15 minute series topographical map produced by the United States Geological Survey or a map of equivalent or superior detail in the location of roads; and

SUMMARY

This bill requires landowners to include on the map provided to the Department of Conservation prior to commencing harvesting activities the location of any site in the harvesting area known to the landowner or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to currently or historically serve as the nesting site for a species listed in the Maine Revised Statutes as endangered or threatened. Filing this information with the Department of Conservation does not create a defense against any actions taken for a violation of the State's endangered and threatened species laws.