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ME LD735
ME LD735An Act to Protect Sand Dunes on Sears Island and to Establish Criteria for Legislation Regarding Land Development
summary
Introduced
02/25/2025
02/25/2025
In Committee
02/25/2025
02/25/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/17/2025
04/17/2025
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill repeals the provisions in law that authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to consider and potentially grant a permit under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 480-D for construction of an offshore wind terminal on Sears Island in the Town of Searsport to be located on or that will otherwise impact a coastal sand dune system on the island. The bill also repeals the provisions in law that direct the Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, to take all reasonable steps to ensure the conservation and protection of a parcel of land in the northwest portion of Sears Island that is approximately 10 acres in size and that includes a coastal sand dune system that is approximately 1 1/2 acres in size. The bill also requires that any legislation proposing to enact a measure regarding the development of land that is in conflict with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations may be sponsored only by a member of the House of Representatives or Senate who represents the affected district and may be enacted only with a 2/3 vote of the Legislature. The bill also prohibits the State from authorizing any land development on Sears Island without first establishing an indigenous lands protection committee and obtaining from that committee a certification that any area to be developed does not contain a site sacred to indigenous people in Maine.
AI Summary
This bill introduces several key provisions related to land development and environmental protection. First, it establishes new rules for proposed legislation that conflicts with United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, stipulating that such legislation can only be sponsored by a representative from the affected district and must pass with a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature. The bill also repeals previous provisions related to an offshore wind terminal project on Sears Island in Searsport, Maine. Most significantly, the bill prohibits any state agency or the Governor from authorizing land development on Sears Island without first establishing an indigenous lands protection committee. This committee would be composed of representatives from six entities: the Governor's office and one representative each from five Maine indigenous tribes (Mi'kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, and the Penobscot Nation). Before any development can proceed, this committee must certify that the proposed development area does not contain any sites sacred to indigenous people in Maine, providing an additional layer of cultural and historical preservation in land use decisions.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (10)
Reagan Paul (R)*,
Alicia Collins (R),
Aaron Dana (NP),
Nicole Grohoski (D),
Kimberly Haggan (R),
Abden Simmons (R),
Michael Soboleski (R),
Tiffany Strout (R),
Jim White (R),
Russell White (R),
Last Action
Accepted Majority (ONTP) Report, Apr 17, 2025 (on 04/17/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=735&snum=132 |
| Fiscal Note: Text | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_132nd/fiscalpdfs/FN073501.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0477&item=1&snum=132 |
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