<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="18-101" title_number="18" title_name="Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Limit of clearing” means the boundaries within which planned cutting, clearing, or grubbing of vegetation associated with stream restoration will occur.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Limit of disturbance” means the boundary within which additional construction, materials and equipment storage, grading, landscaping, and related activities may occur.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An applicant seeking an authorization for a stream and floodplain restoration project in the State shall be subject to the requirements of this section.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>A project applicant shall provide public notice at 30% design completion, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Mailing written notice to any residence or business within a radius of 200 feet of the proposed project area’s boundary; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Posting notice at points of public access to the project.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The public notice required under this subsection shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Information on the project applicant applying for project authorization, including contact information for the applicant;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The purpose of the project; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>If applicable, information about the public meeting under subsection (d) of this section.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The provisions of this subsection do not apply if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The project applicant is an individual;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The proposed project is sited on the individual’s property; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>No residence, other than the individual’s residence, or business is located within a radius of 200 feet from the project boundary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A project applicant shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Hold an in–person public meeting that includes an option for virtual attendance;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Take meeting minutes and record the meeting;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Present:</text> <level label="1"> <text>The project design report and plans;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A forest stand delineation;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Department’s Stream Restoration Authorization Checklist; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>A separate sheet with the design drawings clearly identifying:</text> </level> <level label="A"> <text>The limit of clearing, if any;</text> </level> <level label="B"> <text>The limit of disturbance; and</text> </level> <level label="C"> <text>To the extent practicable, notation where additional trees are planned to be removed; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Post the documents and meeting minutes on the project applicant’s website.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A project applicant shall hold the public meeting required under this subsection when the project design is 60% complete.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A project applicant shall submit to the Department all relevant documents as part of the application and review process, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>The project design report and drawings, including a sheet clearly identifying:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The limit of clearing, if any; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The limit of disturbance;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The forest stand delineation;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Responses to the Department’s Stream Restoration Authorization Checklist;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The meeting minutes and, if feasible, the recording from the public meeting conducted in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Any other documents or information requested by the Department.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The provisions of this subsection do not apply if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The project applicant is an individual;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The proposed project is sited on the individual’s property; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>No residence, other than the individual’s residence, or business is located within a radius of 200 feet from the project boundary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Within 24 hours after submitting an application to the Department, a project applicant shall post on its website:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Notice that it has submitted an application;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The date of submission of the application; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>A copy of the application.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="18-102" title_number="18" title_name="Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Department may authorize a stream and floodplain restoration project in accordance with this section.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Prior to the authorization of any stream and floodplain restoration project in the State, the Department shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Assess documentation submitted by the project applicant for degradation criteria related to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>An existing biological function–based parameter; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A physical parameter, including an existing geomorphologic or hydraulic function–based parameter;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Assess whether the project applicant incorporated the following cobenefits, as appropriate, into the application:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The creation or restoration of wildlife habitat, riparian buffers, and wetland restoration;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The restoration of aquatic resources, such as freshwater mussels, fish passage, or oyster reefs;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Carbon sequestration;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Climate change mitigation, adaptation, or resilience;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>Improving and protecting public health; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>Recreational opportunities and public access to waterways and natural habitats;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Assess documentation of community notifications conducted by the project applicant prior to the submission of the application;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Assess whether the applicant incorporated, to the extent practicable, recognized best management practices to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Maximize ecological uplift;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Minimize:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Impacts to wildlife habitats;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Tree loss and removal;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Earth disturbance; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Disturbance to native vegetation;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Avoid impacts to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Large noninvasive native plant communities; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Specimen trees;</text> </level> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Use existing areas suitable for material staging areas to avoid forest removal;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>Limit construction access road widths;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>Limit the impacts of ingress and egress points to minimize forest impacts; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>Where appropriate, prioritize the removal of nonnative and invasive:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Trees; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Vegetation; and</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Establish a plan to provide for at least 5 years of monitoring in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Department’s assessment review required under subsection (b)(3) of this section shall include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Whether the project applicant provided notice as required in § 18–101 of this title;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Whether the project applicant conducted a public meeting as required in § 18–101(d) of this title;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Whether the project applicant placed appropriate project signage;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Whether the project applicant considered the project’s compatibility with local land use, especially in urban, suburban, and other high–visibility areas;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Whether and how the project applicant considered and responded to relevant public input, including any resulting modifications to the project; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>How the project applicant considered public input in the final application design.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>On completion of a stream and floodplain restoration project, the Department shall provide for at least 5 years of monitoring per the design and permit associated with the design for each authorized project.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The monitoring required under this subsection shall include an assessment of stream stability, stream and floodplain function, and vegetation viability within the affected project area.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="18-103" title_number="18" title_name="Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects" subtitle_number="1"> <text>On or before December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter, the Department shall report to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on any changes made to the Stream Restoration Authorization Checklist since December 1, 2023.</text> </section>