The Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, as established by Title 5, section 12004‑D, subsection 6 and referred to in this chapter as "the task force," is established to advise the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the Legislature on matters pertaining to research, control and eradication of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species.
1.Membership.
The task force consists of 16 members as follows:
2.Terms.
Members appointed by the Governor serve 4-year terms, except that, as determined by the Governor, of the initial appointments, 4 must be for 3 years, including the public member, and 4 must be for 2 years. Members serve until their successors are appointed. A vacancy must be filled for
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The Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, as established by Title 5, section 12004‑D, subsection 6 and referred to in this chapter as "the task force," is established to advise the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the Legislature on matters pertaining to research, control and eradication of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species.
1.
Membership.
The task force consists of 16 members as follows:
2.
Terms.
Members appointed by the Governor serve 4-year terms, except that, as determined by the Governor, of the initial appointments, 4 must be for 3 years, including the public member, and 4 must be for 2 years. Members serve until their successors are appointed. A vacancy must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. If after 6 months of a vacancy on the task force in a position listed in subsection 1, paragraph B the Governor cannot fill that vacancy, the Governor may appoint a member who does not meet the qualifications of subsection 1, paragraph B, but who has demonstrated experience or interest in the area of threats to fish and wildlife posed by invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species.
3.
Advisory group of federal agency representatives.
The task force may form an advisory group of federal agency representatives that may include, but is not limited to, representatives of the United States Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service assigned to Acadia National Park; the United States Department of Agriculture; the United States Forest Service within the United States Department of Agriculture; and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
4.
Duties.
The task force shall develop findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, on any of the following matters and, pursuant to subsection 4‑A, submit a report that includes those findings and recommendations to the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the Legislature:
4-A.
Report.
On or before January 15, 2023, and biennially thereafter, the task force shall submit to the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters, inland fisheries and wildlife matters and marine resources matters a report containing its findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, developed pursuant to subsection 4. After reviewing the report, each joint standing committee may report out legislation related to the report.
5.
Regional cooperation.
The task force shall work with representatives from federal, state and local agencies and private environmental and commercial interests in the northeastern United States to form a northeastern regional panel to establish priorities and coordinate activities to prevent the spread of milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species in the Northeast.
6.
Staff.
The department shall provide staff support to the task force.