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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="8-1009" title_number="8" title_name="Soil Conservation" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Maryland Agricultural Certainty Program">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Department, in coordination with the Department of the Environment, shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Establish a program to certify a person to verify whether an agricultural operation meets and is in compliance with the requirements of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Maintain a list of all certified verifiers; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Publish the list of all certified verifiers on the Department’s Web site.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The certification program shall provide verifiers with the training and education necessary to determine whether an agricultural operation is in compliance with the Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A certified verifier may not verify an agricultural operation:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>In which the certified verifier holds an interest, as defined by regulation; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>That the certified verifier initially determined had met the requirements under § 8–1004 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In establishing the certification program, the Department may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Charge reasonable fees, including an annual certification fee, to cover the costs associated with the certification program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Require continuing education or training for verifiers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Designate an entity to train, certify, and recertify verifiers; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Recognize the training program of an entity employing verifiers if the program meets the certification and recertification training and education standards established by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
