Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §480-B, sub-§10, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. BB, §17, is further amended to read:

10. Significant wildlife habitat. "Significant wildlife habitat" means the following areas to the extent that they have been mapped by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or are within any other protected natural resource: habitat, as defined by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, for species appearing on the official state or federal lists of endangered or threatened animal species; high and moderate value deer wintering areas and travel corridors as defined by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; high and moderate value waterfowl and wading bird habitats, including nesting and feeding areas as defined by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; and critical spawning and nursery areas for Atlantic salmon as defined by the Atlantic Salmon Commission;.__ "Significant wildlife habitat" also means the following areas to the extent they have been defined by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or are within any other protected natural resource: high and moderate value waterfowl and wading bird habitats, including nesting and feeding areas; shorebird nesting, feeding and staging areas and seabird nesting islands as defined by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; and significant vernal pools as defined and identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For purposes of this subsection, "identified" means identified in a specific location by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

SUMMARY

This bill eliminates the mapping requirements for 3 types of significant wildlife habitat: high and moderate value waterfowl and wading bird habitats, including nesting and feeding areas; shorebird nesting, feeding and staging areas and seabird nesting islands; and significant vernal pools.