Title

"News & Issues" piece on a bill, enacted by the Legislature, that transfers over

Authors

Phyllis Austin

Source

Maine Times

Date

6-3-1999

Pages

12

Abstract

"News & Issues" piece on a bill, enacted by the Legislature, that transfers oversight of some major development projects from the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The measure was approved with little public command and almost no press coverage. Affected will be major projects over which both agencies previously had joint jurisdiction, such as the two natural gas pipelines crossing the state. According to Cathy Johnson, attorney for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the regulatory change has the potential to undermine the remote character of the north woods. But John Williams, LURC's executive director who proposed the measure in 1996, said it doesn't change north woods policy in any way. Some large projects require more technical expertise than LURC has, Williams said, noting that DEP has a staff of over 400 while LURC's staff totals 26.

Subjects

Bills, Legislative, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Land Use Regulation Commission

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