Fee changes eyed for underwater lands
Lawmakers are considering upping rent on publicly owned submerged lands, ending years of capped fees on business operations from docks to pipelines.
Under existing law that expires in 2009, each lease is capped annually at $1,200. When the law expires, the caps will disappear. As an alternative, the Department of Conservation has proposed a bill, under review by the Legislature's Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation Committee, that would enact a new formula that charges five cents an acre for underwater lands, according to the Bangor Daily News.
The uncapped fees would affect 967 leases, including 274 commercial leaseholders who would see their fees jump from $174,000 this year to $870,000 next year. Bath Iron Works, the Portland Pipe Line Corp. and commercial fishing outfits are among the program's larger leaseholders. The paper did not report what commercial leaseholders would have to pay if the bill is passed.
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