‘Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §640, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
(1) The department shall publish the notice at least 2 times in a newspaper that has a general circulation in the municipalities adjacent to a water body potentially affected by the hydropower project that is the subject of the water quality certification. The date of the first notice must be on the earliest date practicable.
(2) The department shall send the notice by regular mail to each municipality adjacent to a water body potentially affected by the hydropower project that is the subject of the water quality certification.
(3) The department shall send the notice by regular mail to each person that contacts the department with an interest in the matter.
(4) The department shall notify in writing all state agencies that review, comment on and consult in the water quality certification process.
The department shall adopt major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to define "substantial revision" as used in this subsection.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Land and Water Quality 0248
Initiative: Provides an annual General Fund appropriation to the Department of Environmental Protection for notifying the public, municipalities, interested persons and applicable state agencies whenever a water certification application is received by the department and for holding a public meeting, if one is requested.
| GENERAL FUND | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$3,000 | $3,000 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $3,000 | $3,000 |