Skip to content (press enter)
Donate
Support a Coastal Commission in Maine!

Support a Coastal Commission in Maine!

The Maine Chapter worked with our Northeast Regional Manager to support the passage of a bill that would create a coastal risks and hazards commission in the State.

Summary of LD1095, An Act To Establish the Maine Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission:

This bill establishes the Maine Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission, the purpose of which is to make findings and develop and submit to the Legislature recommendations regarding the actions to be taken by the State to address and prepare for coastal and coastal watershed hazards identified by the commission, including, but not limited to, increased storm surges, extreme precipitation and other extreme weather events, projected sea level rise and increased river flooding and storm water runoff. On or before November 1, 2019, and every 5 years thereafter, the commission must submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environmental and natural resources matters containing its findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation to address identified coastal and coastal watershed hazards.

The Surfrider Foundation submitted testimony during hearing to support this important bill, calling for two additional seats to be added to the Commission: one for a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of coastal and ocean recreation users and one for a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of a healthy ocean and coastal ecosystem.

  • Public Hearing: Thursday, April 6 at 1:00 PM in the Cross Building, Room 216 (map for free parking adjacent to Cross Office Building).
  • Work Session: Wednesday, April 12 at 1:00 PM in the Cross Building, Room 216

The bill was tabled during the April 12 work session, and on May 12, the sponsor requested a carry over to the next session. 

On March 2, 2018, during massive coastal flooding in Maine, the bill was passed as amended out of committee with a divided report, largely along party lines. This sparked debate, resulting in adoption of the committee's majority amendment by the House on March 6 and the Senate on March 20; the amended bill then passed in the House on March 22, and by a motion in the state Senate on March 27 from Senator Hamper, the bill was placed on the special appropriations table pending passage to be enacted. Unfortunately, the term-limited and out-going Governor of Maine vetoed the bill, and on July 9, 2018, the Maine State Legislature failed to obtain the necessary 2/3 majority to override that veto, rendering the bill dead.

YOU CAN HELP! 

Please be sure to see how YOUR Maine electeds voted on the veto override, to send thanks or an email of discouragement if s/he/they voted to sustain the veto (please cc mgates@surfrider.org so we can track advocacy on this issue!

Please give us a shout for talking points and/or to get more involved in our work in Maine.

You can also volunteer with our chapter and join/renew your Surfrider membership to BEST support our work in Maine.

THANK YOU!