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<chapter num="01" heading="Potomac River Safety" title_num="08" subtitle_num="06">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Purpose.">
    <text>The purpose of these regulations is to foster water safety for recreational uses of certain particularly hazardous portions of the Potomac River by establishing zones and public safety restrictions where certain recreational activities are considered unsafe.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Boating”, for the purposes of this chapter, means any recreational or other use of the Potomac River involving a vessel, including swimming or wading in association with a vessel.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Recreational Use.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>“Recreational use” means activities on the Potomac River, including swimming, bathing, wading, diving, tubing, rafting, and other uses involving contact with the water.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>“Recreational use” does not include:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Boating, if each person involved is wearing the U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation device required by law or regulation;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Fishing, when a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device is worn;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>Life-saving efforts;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iv)">
            <text>Swimming or wading as part of a training course having the prior written approval of the Department of Natural Resources or U.S. Park Service.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Vessel.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>“Vessel” means each description of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water or ice, including ice boats. The term includes the vessel's motor, spars, sails, and accessories.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>“Vessel” does not include a:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Seaplane;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Raft with single inflation compartment;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>Tube.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Prohibited Areas.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Zone A. A person may not enter the Potomac River for the purpose of recreational use in that portion of the Potomac River downstream of a line beginning at a point 200 yards above the crest of Aqueduct Dam at or near Lat. 39° 0.157' N., Long. 77° 14.850' W., then running 326° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 0.565' N., Long. 77° 15.197' W., and upstream of a line beginning at the base of Stubblefield Falls, at or near Lat. 38° 58.232' N., Long. 77° 11.458' W., then running 235° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 58.037' N., Long. 77° 11.822' W.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Zone B. A person may not enter the Potomac River for the purpose of recreational use in that portion of the Potomac River downstream of a line beginning at a point 100 yards above the crest of Dam No. 1 at or near Lat. 38° 57.003' N., Long. 77° 7.635' W., then running 253° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 56.925' N., Long. 77° 7.967' W. and upstream of the Maryland-District Columbia line, beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 56.256' N., Long. 77° 6.940' W., then running 225° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 55.478' N., Long. 77° 7.934' W.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Written Approval.">
    <text>Written approval for swimming or wading as part of a training course may be applied for by contacting the:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>National Park Service at the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia 22101; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Boating Services, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Failure to Comply with Lawful Order.">
    <text>A person with or without the written approval described in Regulation .04 of this chapter may not willfully fail or refuse to comply promptly with any lawful or reasonable order or direction of any Natural Resources Police Officer or any law enforcement officer in connection with the enforcement, of Natural Resources Article, §§1-601—1-605, Annotated Code of Maryland or these regulations.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Natural Resources Article, §1-603, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: September 7, 1987 (14:18 Md. R. 1964)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03 amended effective June 24, 2013 (40:12 Md. R. 1041)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04B amended effective September 3, 1990 (17:17 Md. R. 2078)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>