By November 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall adopt rules to allow activities that enhance cold water fishery habitat without a permit or fee. The rules must establish standards for the placement of wood in stream channels and specify that only a licensed forester trained by the bureau in cooperation with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in techniques to enhance fisheries habitat may implement these techniques. [PL 2011, c. 599, §3 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §6 (REV).]

In developing standards to enhance brook trout habitat and the training required to implement habitat enhancement, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall consult with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection. The bureau shall notify the departments of habitat enhancement activities conducted under this section. [PL 2011, c. 599, §3 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §6 (REV).]

A permit is not required for activities conducted in accordance with the rules adopted under this section in stream segments that have been identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as lacking desired habitat features. The Department of Marine Resources must be consulted and approve of any habitat enhancement under this section on a stream that is identified as Atlantic salmon habitat. [PL 2011, c. 599, §3 (NEW).]

The initial rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A. Subsequent amendments to those rules are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A. This section does not relieve a person from meeting the requirements of section 8867?B or Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter 1, article 2?B. [PL 2011, c. 599, §3 (NEW).]