PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BAN SIGNED INTO LAW
Poland spoke and voted, Legislature heard and voted and on April 13 Governor Angus King signed the bill into law. With a sigh of relief by some and incredulity by others, the 119th Maine Legislature passed L.D. 2671, "An Act to Implement Municipal Recommendations Regarding Surface Water Use on Great Ponds."
On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, seven Tripp Lake residents had driven to Augusta, in the midst of a heavy snowstorm, to speak before the Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Few lakes other than ours were represented. Five residents spoke pro-ban, two against. Representative Lois Snowe-Mello remained impartial (nor did she vote on the issue). All were questioned by Committee members and given ample opportunity to be heard. The Committee later discussed the bill and forwarded its recommendations to Legislature.
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Steph Baird and friend, Shellie, prefer kayaking to motorized boating |
The bill has been enacted as an emergency measure, and "for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, is effective immediately, prior to the start of this year’s boating season." Therefore, we have accomplished what most members of TLIA and Range Ponds Association wanted to do, beginning just a year ago: operating personal watercraft (aka jet skis) on Tripp Lake, Upper and Middle Range Ponds is now prohibited and illegal. Thirty-seven other Maine lakes are included in this ban. Several other lakes have chosen to enact various stipulations regarding personal watercraft.
A ban on jet skis has become policy in over 66 National parks. Federal officials point to excessive noise, water pollution, damage to wildlife and threats to boater safety. Pollution experts note that inefficient two-stroke engines which power the watercraft are believed to leak 25% of their fuel into waterways. Tests show that some fuel fails to combust and is flushed out as raw fuel vapor along with emissions.
The Town of Poland will not be contacting individual property owners on these lakes regarding this new law; this is your notification. They will be erecting appropriate signs at the Public Beach and at the boat landing. Fines for violations will be a minimum of $50; sheriffs are being trained by the Department of Inland Fisheries on how best to deal with violators. Should anyone be aware of a violation, they should contact the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Dept.(784-7361) or the Warden’s Service in Gray(657-2345).
For a complete copy of the bill, contact the State Legislative Library at (207) 287-1600.