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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Ensure the Availability of Public Drinking Water Supplies’
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the following:
‘Sec. 1.  Department of Environmental Protection; public water systems stakeholders. Resolved: That the Department of Environmental Protection shall work with the drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Utilities Commission, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, environmental groups, community public water systems and the Attorney General’s office with regard to pending rule-making activities pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 470-H in order to reconcile, to the extent feasible, the objectives of protecting aquatic life and other uses as provided in Title 38, section 470-H and the objective of allowing community public water systems to use their existing water supplies to provide water service. In order to carry out the objectives of this resolve, the department shall submit proposed rules to the Board of Environmental Protection for consideration pursuant to Title 38, section 470-H and, as necessary, shall propose statutory changes. The proposed statutory changes must be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters by January 1, 2007; and be it further
Sec. 2.  Authority to report legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters may report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature in connection with proposed statutory changes proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 1.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that directs the Department of Environmental Protection to work with stakeholders to develop rules related to water withdrawals, and any necessary statutory amendments, that reconcile the objectives of protecting aquatic life and other designated uses and the ability of community public water systems to use their existing water supplies for the purpose of providing water service. The amendment also authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters to report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)