There is a State Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators in the Department.
The Board consists of 11 members.
With the advice and consent of the Senate, the Governor shall appoint 8 members who represent one or more of the following:
Municipal government;
County government;
A sanitary or a metropolitan commission;
Waterworks supervision;
Wastewater works or industrial wastewater works supervision;
Agriculture;
Industrial wastewater works superintendents; and
The Maryland Environmental Service.
The Secretary shall appoint:
1 engineer member from the Department; and
2 public members who represent the community at large.
Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, ยง 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
The term of a member appointed by the Governor is 4 years.
The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1981. The terms of those members end as follows:
Three in 1982;
One in 1983;
One in 1984; and
Two in 1985.
At the end of a term, a member appointed by the Governor continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
A member who is appointed by the Governor after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
The members appointed by the Secretary serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
The Governor may remove for incompetence or misconduct a member appointed by the Governor.
From among its members, the Board annually shall elect a chairman.
The Secretary of the Environment shall designate a representative of the Department as Board secretary.
The manner of election of officers shall be as the Board determines.
The Board shall meet at least once a year, at the times and places that it determines.
Each member of the Board is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
The Board may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget.
In addition to the powers set forth elsewhere in this title, the Board may recommend:
Standards to the Secretary for the classification of waterworks, wastewater works, and industrial wastewater works; and
Rules and regulations for adoption by the Secretary to carry out the provisions of this title.
The Board shall set reasonable fees for the issuance and renewal of certificates and its other services.
The fees shall be set so as to produce funds sufficient to cover the actual direct and indirect costs of regulating waterworks, wastewater works, and industrial wastewater works in accordance with the provisions of this title.
In accordance with the State budget, the Board may pay expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this title.
The Board shall pay all funds collected under this section into the General Fund of this State.