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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="4-203" title_number="4" title_name="Water Management" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Stormwater Management">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Department of the Environment shall implement the provisions of this subtitle and shall consult the Department of Natural Resources from time to time, including during the adoption of regulations, concerning the impact of stormwater on waters of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall adopt rules and regulations which establish criteria and procedures for stormwater management in Maryland.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The rules and regulations shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Indicate that the primary goal of the State and local programs will be to maintain after development, as nearly as possible, the predevelopment runoff characteristics;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Make allowance for the difference in hydrologic characteristics and stormwater management needs of different parts of the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Specify that watershed–wide analyses may be necessary to prevent undesirable downstream effects of increased stormwater runoff;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Specify the exemptions a county or municipality may grant from the requirements of submitting a stormwater management plan;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <level label="1">
          <text>Specify the minimum content of the local ordinances or the rules and regulations of the affected county governing body to be adopted which may be done by inclusion of a model ordinance or model rules and regulations; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Establish regulations and a model ordinance that require:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>The implementation of environmental site design to the maximum extent practicable;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>The review and modification, if necessary, of planning and zoning or public works ordinances to remove impediments to environmental site design implementation; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>A developer to demonstrate that environmental site design has been implemented to the maximum extent practicable and standard best management practices have been used only where absolutely necessary;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Indicate that water quality practices may be required for any redevelopment, even when predevelopment runoff characteristics are maintained;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Specify the minimum requirements for inspection and maintenance of stormwater practices;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>Specify that all stormwater management plans shall be designed to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Prevent soil erosion from any development project;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Prevent, to the maximum extent practicable, an increase in nonpoint pollution;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Maintain the integrity of stream channels for their biological function, as well as for drainage;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Minimize pollutants in stormwater runoff from new development and redevelopment in order to:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Restore, enhance, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the State;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Protect public health;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>Enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, and other uses of water as specified by the Department;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Protect public safety through the proper design and operation of stormwater management facilities;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>Maintain 100% of average annual predevelopment groundwater recharge volume for the site;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>Capture and treat stormwater runoff to remove pollutants and enhance water quality;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="8">
          <text>Implement a channel protection strategy to reduce downstream erosion in receiving streams; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="9">
          <text>Implement quantity control strategies to prevent increases in the frequency and magnitude of out–of–bank flooding from large, less frequent storm events;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <level label="1">
          <text>Establish a comprehensive process for approving grading and sediment control plans and stormwater management plans; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Specify that the comprehensive process established under item (i) of this item takes into account the cumulative impacts of both plans;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>Incorporate the most recent precipitation data available; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <level label="1">
          <text>In consultation with the Department of Agriculture, define “agritourism”; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Consider best management practices for stormwater management for agritourism, including:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>The creation of a standard plan for temporary parking areas; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>The use of pasture, meadows, and cropland for the treatment of stormwater runoff.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Department shall review and update the regulations adopted under this section at least once every 5 years.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In reviewing and updating the regulations adopted under this section, the Department shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>At a minimum, revise water quality and water quantity control standards using the most recent precipitation data available; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>As necessary, update and revise the regulations to meet the requirements of this subtitle.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>On or before November 1, 2021, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The most recent precipitation data available;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The Department’s plans for immediately updating water quantity control standards for watersheds where flooding events occurred on or after January 1, 2000; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The Department’s plans for updating all other regulations adopted under this section.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>After November 1, 2021, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on any revisions the Department intends to make to the regulations adopted under this section before publishing the regulations.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At least 6 months before the proposal of regulations under this section, the Department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Post the regulatory process that the Department follows on the Department’s website; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Consult with the following groups and stakeholders on the impact of the proposed regulations:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Stakeholders with expertise on stormwater design standards and climate science, including stakeholders from:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>An academic institution;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>The Chesapeake Bay Program;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>The Chesapeake Bay Commission;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>The Maryland Emergency Management Agency;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="E">
          <text>The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="F">
          <text>Local government;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="G">
          <text>A private sector entity with design and construction experience; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="H">
          <text>An association that has expertise in stormwater restoration projects.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Before any regulations required under this section are adopted, the Department shall hold at least one public hearing in the affected immediate geographic areas of the State and shall consult with the affected counties and municipalities.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department may not delay the implementation of any new requirements or standards established under regulations adopted under this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Department shall provide technical assistance, training, research, and coordination in stormwater management technology to the local governments consistent with the purposes of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
