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Amend the amendment in section 5 by striking out all of subsection 14 (page 1, lines 14 to 20 in amendment) and inserting the following:
 
‘14. Lawful harvesting of marine organisms or vegetation in coastal wetlands.   A person lawfully engaged in the harvesting of marine organisms or vegetation under the provisions of Title 12, chapter 605 is not required to obtain a permit to engage in those activities in a coastal wetland or a coastal wetland containing a high or moderate value waterfowl or wading bird habitat or shorebird feeding or staging area. Within a coastal wetland or a coastal wetland containing a high or moderate value waterfowl or wading bird habitat or shorebird feeding or staging area, the removal of vegetation or displacement of soil associated with or authorized by those lawful activities is not a violation of this article; and’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of the 5th and 6th indented paragraphs after the title (page 1, lines 24 to 29 in amendment) and inserting the following:
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Amend the bill in section 7 in §480-CC by striking out all of subsection 2 and inserting the following:
 
‘2.  Cutting standards within roosting and feeding buffers.     The cutting standards in this subsection apply in addition to the permitting standards in section 480-D.
 
A.  Cutting or removal of vegetation within a roosting buffer is prohibited except as approved by the department for:
 
(1) Removal of a safety hazard;
 
(2) Cutting or removal of vegetation to allow for a footpath not to exceed 6 feet in width as measured between tree trunks and shrub stems. The footpath may not result in a cleared line of sight to the water; and
 
(3) Cutting or removal of vegetation determined to be necessary by the department in order to conduct other activities approved by the department pursuant to section 480-C and in accordance with the standards of this article and rules adopted pursuant to this article, including but not limited to avoidance, minimization and no unreasonable impact. The department may not approve cutting or removal of vegetation for purposes of creating a view unless the department in consultation with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife determines there will be no unreasonable impact on the protected resource.
 
Any cutting or removal of vegetation under this paragraph must be done in consultation with and as approved by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
 
B.  Cutting or removal of vegetation within a feeding buffer is prohibited except as approved by the department for:
 
(1) Cutting or removal of vegetation that meets the vegetative screening standards set forth in Title 38, section 439-A, subsection 6. In interpreting and enforcing these standards, the department shall rely upon the department's shoreland zoning rules regarding cutting or removal of vegetation for activities other than timber harvesting and apply the cutting standards applicable within 75 feet of a coastal wetland to the entire 100-foot feeding buffer; and
 
(2) Cutting or removal of vegetation determined to be necessary by the department in order to conduct other activities approved by the department pursuant to section 480-C and in accordance with the standards of this article and rules adopted pursuant to this article, including but not limited to avoidance, minimization and no unreasonable impact.
 
This paragraph may not be construed to limit a municipality's authority under home rule to adopt ordinances containing stricter standards than those contained in this paragraph.
 
SUMMARY
The amendment clarifies that the cutting standards applied within 100 feet of a shorebird feeding area are those that are used within 75 feet of a coastal wetland under shoreland zoning.
The amendment also makes 2 changes to the proposed exemption for lawful harvesting. It clarifies that the exemption applies to waterfowl as well as wading bird habitat and that the removal of vegetation or displacement of soil associated with lawful harvesting activities is not a violation of the natural resources protection laws.
 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)