The Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to work Thursday afternoon on the bill that could upgrade a portion of the lower Androscoggin River from Class C to Class B.

Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, and Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, testified before the committee last week, lobbying alongside the environmental group Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, to amend the bill to include upgrading part of the Androscoggin.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection said it’s not sure the river meets the Class B standards under the worst possible conditions, but Friends says its research indicates that it does.

If the upgrade was approved, those who discharge into the river, such as the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, could be held responsible if conditions fell below the new, stricter standards.

Nuisance beaver

Under current law, if a town wants to get rid of a “nuisance” beaver, they have to hire a licensed animal control agent.

Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, wants them to be able to just shoot it.

His bill, scheduled for a public hearing before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee on Tuesday, would allow municipalities to do just that, as long as they could prove “beaver-related activities have repeatedly jeopardized the integrity of a public road.”

Prison gardens

Rep. Howard McFadden, R-Dennysville, wants to make prisoners exercise their green thumbs while serving time.

He’s sponsored a bill that would require the Department of Corrections and county jails to develop community service programs, which must include a gardening program, and force prisoners to participate “as determined appropriate.”

Further, his bill also calls for public universities and nonprofits such as hospitals implement food composting programs by the end of 2009.

The compost, his bill suggests, can be distributed among the newly developed jail gardens.

This bill faces a public hearing before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Monday morning.

Canned hunting

Want to hunt a buffalo in Maine? What about a wild boar?

The practice known as “canned” hunting will be up for scrutiny next week before members of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.

One bill, sponsored by Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford, would place a statewide ban on the sport that entails stocking animals within an enclosed space for sport hunting.

Another, sponsored by Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, would allow for a new such facility to open in Piscataquis County, apparently to allow boar hunting.

Other game that’s been brought into Maine for canned hunting excursions include buffalo and pheasant.

The public hearing on these bills is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

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