Rivers, Streams, And Lakes
Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Forest Conservation Act – Modifications [HB-1511]
[Environmental ]
[Energy ]
[Public Lands and National Parks ]
[Water ]
[Climate Change ]
Altering the definition of "qualified conservation" for purposes of provisions of law related to forest mitigation banks; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to update a certain model local government ordinance by July 1, 2025, and adopt certain regulations relating to forest conservation on or before July 1, 2026; providing that a solar voltaic facilities granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity before July 1, 2023, may not be subject to certain afforestation requirements; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Sara Love
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 457 on 05/09/2024
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Gettr Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Soil Conservation Districts - Small Ponds - Plan Review Fees [HB-1465]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Agriculture ]
Authorizing a soil conservation district to recommend a fee system to cover the cost of reviewing plans for small ponds; establishing that any fees collected under the Act shall be supplemental to county and State funds; requiring a soil conservation district, in developing a fee system for small pond plans, to determine for the succeeding year the reasonable cost of reviewing the plans; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Greg Wims
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 524 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Alteration and Extension [HB-1347]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Budget and Spending ]
[Funding ]
Altering the amount of an appropriation the Governor is required to make to the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund, from $1,000,000 each fiscal year to $2,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; and extending the termination date applicable to certain provisions relating to the purpose, use, and funding of the Fund, from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jason Buckel
Hearing 2/27 At 12:00 P.m. on 02/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Wetlands and Waterways Program - Stream Restoration Projects [HB-1284]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Community Development ]
Repealing an exemption for stream restoration projects from certain application fees for certain projects that impact a wetland or waterway; requiring a person applying for a wetlands and waterways authorization for a stream restoration project associated with achieving restoration goals to include in the authorization application certain objectives, standards, and plans; requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct a certain community engagement process before issuing a certain authorization; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jennifer Terrasa
Hearing 3/06 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Reservoir, Dam, or Waterway Obstruction Construction Permits - Conditions for Exemption [HB-1264]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Construction ]
Altering the conditions under which a person is exempt from obtaining a permit from the Department of the Environment to construct or repair a reservoir, dam, or waterway obstruction.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nick Allen
Hearing Canceled on 03/22/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Fisheries - Striped Bass or Rockfish - Juvenile Survey [HB-1232]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
Expanding the scope of the annual young-of-the-year juvenile survey of striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to conduct the survey at sampling sites in the central region of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay in addition to sampling sites in the northern and southern regions of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay; and establishing certain requirements for the central region sampling sites.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholaus Kipke
Hearing 3/06 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Standing - Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Proceedings (Clean Water Justice Act of 2024) [HB-1101]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
Providing certain persons standing in environmental and natural resources protection proceedings; authorizing persons that meet standing requirements to bring certain civil actions under certain circumstances; requiring a plaintiff, under certain circumstances, to give certain notice and provide certain documentation to the Department of the Environment and the Attorney General and to file a certain affidavit; authorizing a court to grant certain relief, award certain costs, and impose certain civil penalties; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Fraser-hidalgo
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 535 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Watershed, Stream, and Floodplain Restoration - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration and Stream and Floodplain Restoration Funding (Whole Watershed Act) [HB-1165]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
[Budget and Spending ]
Requiring, in each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030, up to $100,000 from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to be used to fund certain operations grants at a rate of $20,000 per project sponsor each fiscal year; authorizing the use of the Waterway Improvement Fund for projects that involve the beneficial use of dredged material and for certain water quality monitoring; prohibiting the Department of the Environment from reducing certain monitoring requirements for certain projects; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 558 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Environment – Water Pollution Control – Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution (Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution Act) [HB-1153]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Public Health ]
[Science ]
Requiring the Department of the Environment to identify significant industrial users that currently and intentionally use PFAS chemicals by July 1, 2026; requiring the Department to develop certain PFAS monitoring and testing criteria for certain significant industrial users by January 1, 2025; requiring the Department by June 1, 2025, to develop PFAS action levels for addressing PFAS contamination from industrial discharge for pretreatment permits; requiring the Department to develop mitigation plans by September 1, 2025; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 556 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Watershed, Stream, and Floodplain Restoration - Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration and Stream and Floodplain Restoration Funding (Whole Watershed Act) [SB-969]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
[Budget and Spending ]
Requiring, in each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030, up to $100,000 from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to be used to fund certain operations grants at a rate of $20,000 per project sponsor each fiscal year; establishing the Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their watersheds; authorizing the use of the Waterway Improvement Fund for projects that involve the beneficial use of dredged material and for certain water quality monitoring; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Guy Guzzone
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 559 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund - Extension [SB-1094]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Funding ]
Extending the termination date applicable to certain provisions relating to the purpose, use, and funding of the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Hearing 3/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/20/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Environment - Water Pollution Control - Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution (Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution Act) [SB-956]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Public Health ]
[Science ]
Requiring the Department of the Environment to identify significant industrial users that currently and intentionally use PFAS chemicals by October 1, 2024; requiring the Department to develop certain PFAS monitoring and testing criteria for significant industrial users by January 1, 2025; requiring the Department to develop PFAS action levels for addressing PFAS contamination from industrial discharge for pretreatment permits by June 1, 2025; requiring the Department to develop certain mitigtion plans by September 1, 2025; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Katie Hester
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 557 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Deep Creek Lake - Lower Lake Levels - Requirement and Impact Study [SB-837]
[Water ]
[Environmental ]
[Energy ]
[Recreation ]
[Science ]
Requiring the Water and Science Administration in the Department of the Environment, under certain circumstances to require Brookfield Power Piney & Deep Creek LLC to lower the level of Deep Creek Lake for at least 4 weeks between October 31 and January 1; requiring the Department of Natural Resources or a contractor hired by the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study while the lake level is lowered to determine the impact of the lower levels on nvasive plants, sediment deposits, and the whitewater industry; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mike McKay
Hearing 4/03 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/21/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Confined Aquatic Disposal Task Force - Established [HB-886]
[Environmental ]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Water ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing the Confined Aquatic Disposal Task Force to review the State's long-term strategies for maintaining functional and thriving ports in the State, the capacity limitations on the State dredged material sites and limitation to be placed on confined aquatic disposal programs; and requiring the Task Force to reports its findings and recommendations to the Governor and certain committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2025.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholaus Kipke
Hearing 2/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Deep Creek Lake - Lower Lake Levels - Requirement and Impact Study [HB-910]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Science ]
Requiring the Water and Science Administration in the Department of the Environment to require Brookfield Power Piney & Deep Creek LLC to lower the level of Deep Creek Lake for at least 4 weeks between November 30 and February 28; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a certain study while the lake level is lowered to determine the impact of the lower levels on the spread of invasive plants and accumulated sediment deposits; requiring certain units of the State to consider the reports when taking certain actions; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jim Hinebaugh
Hearing 2/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Stream Restoration Contractors Licensing Board, Stream Restoration Contractors, and Stream Restoration Project Requirements [SB-798]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Construction ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing the Stream Restoration Contractors Licensing Board; requiring a person to be licensed as a stream restoration contractor or be employed by an individual or entity that is licensed as a stream restoration contractor before the person performs or solicits to perform stream restoration contractor services in the State, subject to a certain exception; requiring the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, to develop a certain assessment; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Katie Hester
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/13/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Fisheries – Striped Bass or Rockfish – Juvenile Survey [SB-711]
[Animals ]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
Expanding the scope of the annual young-of-the-year juvenile survey of striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to conduct the survey at sampling sites in the central region of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay in addition to sampling sites in the northern and southern regions of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay; and establishing certain requirements for the central region sampling sites.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jack Bailey
Hearing 2/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/07/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Department of the Environment - Nontidal Wetlands - Protection of Vernal Pools (Vernal Pool Wetlands Protection Act of 2024) [HB-729]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations to protect and preserve vernal pools; and requiring the Department to complete a plan for identifying vernal pools in the State.
Sponsored by: Rep. Terri Hill
Hearing 2/21 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/01/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Standing - Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Proceedings (Clean Water Justice Act of 2024) [SB-653]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
Providing certain persons standing in certain environmental and natural resources protection proceedings; authorizing persons that meet certain standing requirements to bring certain civil actions under certain circumstances; requiring a plaintiff, under certain circumstances, to give certain notice and provide certain documentation to the Department of the Environment and the Attorney General in a certain manner and to file a certain affidavit; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 536 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Environment - Dredged Material - Containment, Redeposit, and Oversight [HB-343]
[Environmental ]
[Water ]
[Waste Management / Recycling ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring the Cox Creek Oversight Committee to provide input to the Maryland Port Administration regarding management of dredged material at the Cox Creek Dredge Material Containment Facility; authorizing the Department of the Environment to approve contained areas at a large redevelopment site for the redeposit of certain dredged material; establishing the Hart-Miller-Pleasure Island Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor the area water quality, and the future development and use of the Hart-Miller-Pleasure Island chain; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Rachel Munoz
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 807 on 05/16/2024