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An Act To Amend Water Quality Standards for Fish Hatcheries
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current law requires that the nutrient management plan for a fish hatchery address storage, management and use of fish waste from the hatchery with a goal of improving water quality; and
Whereas,  requiring that the quality of the water coming out of the fish hatchery be better is impeding business; and
Whereas,  it is important that this legislation take effect immediately so that business can improve; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §4214, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 726, §1, is amended to read:
 
2. Rules for fish hatcheries.   In accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, the commissioner shall adopt rules to establish requirements for nutrient management plans for fish hatcheries, compliance schedules for fish hatcheries, a process for review of the nutrient management plans, periodic revisions of plans and determination of compliance with the plans. A nutrient management plan for a fish hatchery must address storage, management and use of fish waste from the hatchery with the goal of improvingmaintaining water quality.
 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A2-A.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
Current law requires a nutrient management plan for a fish hatchery to address storage, management and use of fish waste from the hatchery with the goal of improving water quality. This bill requires the plan to have the goal of maintaining water quality.