L.D. 960 -- "An Act to Protect a Farmer's Right to Farm"

Presented by Representative CRABTREE of Hope; Cosponsored by Senator SAVAGE of Knox, Representative CARR of Lincoln, Representative CLARK of Millinocket, Representative DUNCAN of Presque Isle.

Summary: This bill would make it essentially impossible for chemically sensitive individuals to obtain Critical Pesticide Control Area designation from the Board of Pesticides Control.

Comments: Would make it much more difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to obtain relief from their neighbors' use of pesticides for health reasons under the BPC's "Critical Pesticide Control Area" designation. Submitted by member of Crabtree family which opposed the Brown family's successful petition for pesticide relief in Hope last year.

MOFGA position: OPPOSED; Read MOFGA's Testimony

Status: Majority ought not to pass recommendation accept in House & Senate 5/16.

L.D. 902 -- "An Act to Require the Labeling of Certain Genetically Engineered Foods"

Presented by Representative VOLENIK of Brooklin; Cosponsored by Senator RAND of Cumberland, Senator GOLDTHWAIT of Hancock, Senator TREAT of Kennebec, Representative BULL of Freeport, Representative MCKEE of Wayne, Representative BAGLEY of Machias, Representative BERRY of Livermore, Representative DUDLEY of Portland, Representative SKOGLUND of St. George, Representative TWOMEY of Biddeford.

Comments: This bill mandates labeling of genetically engineered food in Maine.

MOFGA position: SUPPORTED; Read MOFGA's Testimony

Status: Voted 10-3 "Ought Not to Pass" in Ag Committee April 12; three supporters were Representatives VOLENIK of Brooklin, HAWES, of Standish, and PINEAU, of Jay. Submitted to the floor, where it was defeated.

L.D. 1733 -- "An Act to Prohibit the Misbranding of Genetically Engineered Food"

Presented by Senator KILKELLY of Lincoln; Cosponsored by Representative GOOLEY of Farmington and Senators: EDMONDS of Cumberland, LaFOUNTAIN of York, McALEVEY of York, NUTTING of Androscoggin, Representatives: PATRICK of Rumford, USHER of Westbrook.

Comments: Provides for voluntary labeling of foods made without genetic engineering; rules to be based on FDA guidance; investigation of and penalties for mislabeling; 1% permissible contamination threshold. Effective January 1, 2002.

MOFGA postion: OPPOSED

Status: Voted 10-3 "Ought to Pass" in Ag Committee April 12. Opponents were Representatives VOLENIK of Brooklin, HAWES, of Standish, and PINEAU, of Jay. Submitted to the floor, where it was passed.

L.D. 1266 -- "An Act to Protect Against Contamination of Crops and Wild Plant Populations by Genetically Engineered Plants"

Presented by Representative MCKEE of Wayne; Cosponsored by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin, Representative VOLENIK of Brooklin, Representative BAGLEY of Machias, Representative CHICK of Lebanon, Representative COWGER of Hallowell, Representative HAWES of Standish, Representative JONES of Greenville, Representative LUNDEEN of Mars Hill, Representative PINEAU of Jay, Representative TWOMEY of Biddeford.

Comments: Requires manufacturers of genetically engineered plants or seeds to deliver written instructions to all Maine growers on how to minimize potential cross-contamination; requires manufacturer or seed dealer to keep list of all purchasers of GE seeds & plants, except of individual homeowner seed packets, and to permit Commissioner to inspect list in investigations of cross-contamination; fine or loss of license for failure to comply. MOFGA Position: MOFGA DRAFTED, SUPPORTED;

MOFGA Position: MOFGA DRAFTED, SUPPORTED; Read MOFGA's Testimony

Status: Ag Committee voted unanimously "OUGHT TO PASS" on April 12. Uproar from biotech industry led to intense lobbying and reconsideration on April 27. Bill renegotiated to eliminate clause on liability for cross-contamination, other minor modifications. Bill as revised voted unanimously "OUGHT TO PASS" on April 27.

Passed House & Senate 5/21 & 5/22. Genetic Cross-contamination Legislation Signed Into Law, 6/4/01.
Final Text of Cross-Contamination Law Available Here

L.D. 1540 -- "An Act to Ensure that the State Board of Pesticides Control has Sufficient Resources to Provide Accurate Information About the Use of Pesticides in the State"

Presented by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin; Cosponsored by Senator KILKELLY of Lincoln, Senator KNEELAND of Aroostook, Representative PINEAU of Jay, Representative CARR of Lincoln, Representative MCKEE of Wayne, Representative SNOWE-MELLO of Poland, Representative VOLENIK of Brooklin.

Comments: This bill would require the Board of Pesticide Control (BPC) to prepare meaningful annual reports of total pesticide sales to various sectors of use in Maine, as originally required by 1997 Act to Minimize Reliance on Pesticides, but never accomplished. Last useful report was prepared in 1995. Funds one full time position from BPC's reserve fund to do this. The BPC opposed this bill.

MOFGA position: SUPPORTED

Status: Passed Senate and House 5/24.

L.D. 672 -- "An Act to Make Confidential Certain Information Collected from State Farmers"

Presented by Senator KNEELAND of Aroostook. Cosponsored by Senator KILKELLY of Lincoln and Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin, Representatives CARR of Lincoln, JODREY of Bethel, LUNDEEN of Mars Hill

Comments: Would make information about pesticide use by farmers gathered by the BPC confidential and not accessible to the public. Proposed by the Farm Bureau, though even the sponsors thought it was a bad idea by the time of the hearing.

MOFGA position: OPPOSED

Status: Unanimous "OUGHT NOT TO PASS" vote in Ag Committee

L.D. 1543 -- "An Act to Reduce the Release of Dioxin into the Environment from Consumer Products"

Presented by Senator TREAT of Kennebec. Cosponsored by Representative COWGER of Hallowell and Senators DOUGLASS of Androscoggin, LAFOUNTAIN of York, SAWYER of Penobscot, Representatives BAKER of Bangor, DUPLESSIE of Westbrook, KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor, TOBIN D of Windham.

Comment: Educational and incentive measures to reduce PVC plastic from household waste that is burned; prohibits outdoor burning of plastics; study to propose future measures of dioxin reduction.

MOFGA Position: SUPPORTED

Status: Passed Senate & House 5/16