Maine Revised Statutes Title 38. Waters and Navigation § 1862. Program to prevent infestation of and to control invasive aquatic plants

1. Program. The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife jointly shall implement a program to inspect watercraft, watercraft trailers and outboard motors at or near the border of the State and at boat launching sites for the presence of invasive aquatic plants; to monitor inland waters of the State known to be infested with invasive aquatic plants; and to provide educational materials to the public and to watercraft owners regarding invasive aquatic plants and surface use restrictions on inland waters of the State pursuant to section 1864.

2. Other inspection stations allowed. The program established under this section also may include inspections at boat launching sites on inland waters that are already infested and at boat launching sites on the inland waters that have been identified as most at risk of introduction of invasive aquatic plants.

3. Informational material to be provided. The program established under this section must provide for the distribution of informational material on invasive aquatic plants, including a guide to identifying those plants, information on how to prevent the spread of those plants and information on the potential environmental impact and other impacts of infestation.

4. Program implementation. During the 2001 boating season, the department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall spend at least 5,000 person hours inspecting watercraft, watercraft trailers and outboard motors at selected boat launching sites and at no fewer than 10 roadside locations at or near the state border. In 2001, the program established under this section also must include an extensive educational effort involving a variety of media with the goal of informing the public of the risks posed by invasive aquatic plants, how to inspect watercraft, watercraft trailers and outboard motors for the presence of invasive aquatic plant material and how to properly dispose of that material. The program also must include other invasive aquatic plant-related inspection or educational efforts considered appropriate by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The program in 2002 and subsequent years must be at a level of effort determined by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in consultation with the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, as established in section 1871. The program must include a review of watercraft inspection protocols and surface use restrictions on inland waters of the State known to be infested with invasive aquatic plants pursuant to section 1864.

5. Report. The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall submit a report detailing program activities to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters by January 15th annually. The committee may report out a bill based on the report to any regular or special session of the Legislature.