E. The activity does not take place in a wetland containing or consisting of peat land dominated by shrubs, sedges and sphagnum moss; and

F. The entire activity constitutes a single, complete project.;

Sec. 4. 38 MRSA §480-Q, sub-§17, ¶¶G, H and I are enacted to read:

G.__The activity does not occur in a wetland containing a natural community that is critically imperiled, S1, or imperiled, S2, as defined by the Natural Areas Program established in Title 12, section 544;

H.__The activity does not occur in a significant wildlife habitat; and

I.__The activity does not occur in a wetland area that is inundated with floodwater during a 100-year flood event based on flood insurance maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or other site-specific information.

SUMMARY

This bill adds a clarification of "timber harvesting" within the definition of "forest management activities" to improve consistency between the natural resources protection laws and the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 8868.

This bill removes language in the definition of "significant wildlife habitat" in the natural resources protection laws that requires significant vernal pools to be identified in a specific location. Instead, significant vernal pool habitat would be required to meet specific criteria to be considered as "significant wildlife habitat." Criteria for identification of significant vernal pools and associated management areas are established through rule.

The bill adds a limitation to the existing exemption for minor alterations in freshwater wetlands by providing that the exemption would not be available if the proposed activity would occur in a wetland containing a natural community that is critically imperiled, S1, or imperiled, S2, as defined by the Natural Areas Program, in a significant wildlife habitat or in a