Sec. 6. Adoption of rule; legislation authorized. The Commissioner of Conservation shall proceed with adoption of a rule to establish statewide standards for timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas. The rule must implement the recommendations submitted in a report dated February 18, 2003 and presented to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on February 24, 2003. The committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature to make statutory revisions necessary to implement a statewide standard for timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas, to clarify the responsibilities of the Bureau of Forestry in administering and enforcing the standard and to clarify municipal authority to adopt, administer and enforce a standard that is consistent with or more stringent than the statewide standard.

Sec. 7. Review of rules pertaining to timber harvesting in shoreland areas within unorganized and deorganized areas. No later than October 1, 2005, the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation, shall review the commission's rules pertaining to timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas and provide for the repeal or amendment of rules that duplicate or conflict with the rules adopted by the Commissioner of Conservation pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 8867-B. The commission shall ensure that any necessary changes in rule become effective January 1, 2006.

Sec. 8. Review of rules pertaining to timber harvesting in shoreland areas. No later than October 1, 2005, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation, shall review rules adopted by the commissioner or the Board of Environmental Protection pertaining to timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas and provide for the repeal or amendment of rules that duplicate or conflict with the rules adopted by the Commissioner of Conservation pursuant to Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 8867-B. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the board shall ensure that any necessary changes become effective January 1, 2006.