Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period because the 1998 Kennebec Hydro Developers Group Agreement requires a mechanism for permanent fish passage to be installed at the Fort Halifax dam on the Sebasticook River no later than May 1, 2003; 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

Sec. 1. State agencies to renegotiate the 1998 Kennebec Hydro Developers Group Agreement. Resolved: That the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the State Planning Office within the Executive Department shall renegotiate the 1998 Kennebec Hydro Developers Group Agreement to require fish passage at the Fort Halifax, Benton Falls and Burnham projects no sooner than May 1, 2005 in order that a comprehensive assessment may be made of the anadromous restoration plan for the Sebasticook River system.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the State Planning Office within the Executive Department to renegotiate the 1998 Kennebec Hydro Developers Group Agreement to require fish passage at the Fort Halifax, Benton Falls and Burnham projects no sooner than May 1, 2005 in order that a comprehensive assessment may be made of the anadromous restoration plan for the Sebasticook River system.