AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers are full of questions as they get their first look at Gov. Paul LePage's environmental regulatory reform bill, which gets the numerical distinction of being LD No. 1 among the hundreds of bills introduced this year.
Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection Darryl Brown, speaks at a hearing before the Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform at the State House, in Augusta, Maine, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 . (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach)
The Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform is taking up only some of the changes the governor is expected to submit to lawmakers. Others are still being refined.
Among the proposals presented Monday are some calling for job and fiscal cost analysis of new environmental rules, creating a small business ombudsman, replacing the Board of Environmental Protection with an appeals panel and barring rule changes when applicants already have permits.
Some lawmakers on the committee said the proposals are vague and questioned why they are being presented in piecemeal fashion.
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