Title 4. Water Management — Subtitle 8. Report on Environmental Violations
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 4-801 (2026)
Title 4. Water Management
Subtitle 8. Report on Environmental Violations
§ 4–801LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Compliance assistance” means an action taken by a jurisdiction with delegated authority under Subtitle 1 of this title that:
(1)
Corrects a violation before a formal enforcement action is necessary; or
(2)
Was voluntarily taken to prevent future violations.
(c)
“Critical Area” has the meaning stated in § 8–1802 of the Natural Resources Article.
(d)
(1)
“Sensitive area” means an area of critical concern.
(2)
“Sensitive area” includes:
(i)
Buffers, as defined in COMAR 27.01.01.01;
(ii)
Habitat protection areas, as defined in COMAR 27.01.01.01;
(iii)
Modified buffer areas, as defined in COMAR 27.01.01.01;
(iv)
Nontidal wetlands, as defined in COMAR 26.23.01.01;
(v)
Tidal wetlands, as defined in COMAR 26.24.01.02;
(vi)
100–year floodplains, as defined in COMAR 08.19.03.01; and
(vii)
Stream buffers, as defined in COMAR 08.19.03.01.
Md. Code Ann., Envir. § 4-802 (2026)
Title 4. Water Management
Subtitle 8. Report on Environmental Violations
§ 4–802LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
On or before January 1 each year, each jurisdiction that has delegated authority under Subtitle 1 of this title to enforce sediment and erosion control laws and regulations shall report to the Department on:
(i)
The total number of cases alleging violations of:
(1)
Sediment and erosion control laws and regulations; and
(2)
Building and grading permits; and
(ii)
The total number of cases alleging violations in the Critical Area of:
(1)
Sediment and erosion control laws and regulations; and
(2)
Building and grading permits.
(2)
The information reported to the Department under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include:
(i)
The number and nature of:
(1)
Formal complaints issued by the jurisdiction and whether the complaint is in the Critical Area;
(2)
Stop work orders issued by the jurisdiction; and
(3)
Alleged violations reported by citizens to the jurisdiction;
(ii)
The number of court proceedings involving an alleged violation, including the final disposition of each court proceeding;
(iii)
The dollar amount of fines levied and collected by the jurisdiction as a result of a violation;
(iv)
The dollar amount of civil and criminal penalties imposed and collected as a result of a violation;
(v)
(1)
Whether the jurisdiction provided compliance assistance to correct a violation and the nature of that assistance; and
(2)
Whether the compliance assistance provided by the jurisdiction led to compliance; and
(vi)
The number of inspectors and other staff of the jurisdiction assigned to inspection and enforcement of:
(1)
Title 8, Subtitle 18 of the Natural Resources Article;
(2)
Sensitive areas ordinances;
(3)
100–year floodplain ordinances;
(4)
Sediment and erosion control laws and regulations; and
(5)
Building and grading permits.
(b)
On request of a jurisdiction that has delegated authority under Subtitle 1 of this title to enforce sediment and erosion control laws and regulations, the Department shall provide technical assistance to the jurisdiction to meet the reporting requirements under subsection (a) of this section.
(c)
The Department shall post the information collected under subsection (a) of this section on its website.
(d)
On or before March 1 each year, the Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on:
(1)
The information collected under subsection (a) of this section; and
(2)
Any other information provided to the Department by a jurisdiction that has been delegated authority under Subtitle 1 of this title to enforce sediment and erosion control laws and regulations.