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Chapter 03. Noise Level Limits of Vessels

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Regulation .01 Exceptions and Conditions.Copy Citation

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A.
This chapter does not apply to:
(1)
A vessel or device used solely for the purpose of warning, protecting, or alerting the public of the existence of an emergency condition, including law enforcement and fire-fighting vessels;
(2)
An approved Department or United States Coast Guard activity listed below:
(a)
A vessel engaged in a professional exhibition,
(b)
A regatta,
(c)
A motorboat race, or other boat race,
(d)
A marine parade,
(e)
A tournament or exhibition;
(3)
A vessel displaying a valid seafood harvesters license number while actually engaged in the harvesting of seafood for sale;
(4)
A vessel being tested, repaired, or developed by a service person or by an American Power Boat Association (APBA) driver, or a sanctioning association recognized by the Department, during the hours between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; or
(5)
A vessel with a permit issued for economic hardship.
B.
A current valid identification card issued by the APBA or sanctioning association identifying the driver shall be on board the vessel being tested, repaired, or developed by the APBA or other sanctioning association.
C.
Vessels excepted under §A(4) of this regulation are required to:
(1)
Notify the Natural Resources Police regional office during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at least 24 hours, but not more than 72 hours, before operating the vessel being tested, repaired, or developed;
(2)
Provide the following information to the Natural Resources Police:
(a)
Name and address of the driver,
(b)
Name and address of the vessel owner,
(c)
Type and description of the vessel,
(d)
Vessel name or registration number, and
(e)
Date, time, and location of proposed operation;
(3)
Limit the number of tests per vessel to four in any 7-day period; and
(4)
Limit each test per vessel to a total test period of 30 minutes on the water.

Regulation .02 Definitions.Copy Citation

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A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Background sound level” means wind effects, and sound emission from sources other than the vessel being monitored.
(2)
“Economic hardship” means a determination by the Department of Natural Resources that, in order to meet the noise level limits as established in Regulation .03 of this chapter:
(a)
A vessel must have a new muffler installed or the engine must be physically changed; and
(b)
The cost of the muffler or physical change exceeds 10 percent of the value of the vessel as shown in a national publication of used vessel values used by the Department.
(3)
“Muffler” means an exhaust system installed below or above the water line and a device that is capable of reducing the noise from the engine to levels that shall meet the noise level limits established by the Department.
(4)
“Service person” means a person who is employed as a marine engine mechanic, either for himself or by a bona fide engine or boat manufacturer, or marine service company.

Regulation .02-1 Incorporation by Reference.Copy Citation

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Stationary Sound Level Measurement Procedure For Pleasure Motorboats, Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice, SAE J2005 (Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., December 1991) is incorporated by reference.

Regulation .03 Noise Level Limits.Copy Citation

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A.
A person may not operate or give permission to operate a vessel on the waters of the State that emits a maximum noise level exceeding 90 dB(a).
B.
On the waters of Deep Creek Lake and from the mouth of the Northeast and Elk Rivers to include all tributaries including the Bohemia River and the C&D Canal, a person may not operate a vessel in such a manner to exceed the following vessel noise levels:
(1)
For engines manufactured before January 1, 1993, the noise level may not exceed 90dB(a).
(2)
For engines manufactured on or after January 1, 1993, the noise level may not exceed 88dB(a).

Regulation .04 Equipment.Copy Citation

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A sound level meter shall meet the American National Standards Institute standard for sound level meters found in “ANSI S.1.4 Type 1 or Type 2 Specifications for Sound Level Meters” (1971, 1983), and “ANSI S.1.4A”.

Regulation .05 Testing Procedures.Copy Citation

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A.
The operator of the sound level meter for enforcement purposes shall be an officer with the Natural Resources Police who is qualified by training to operate sound level meters.
B.
When a vessel is equipped with a muffler cutout, muffler bypass, or other device used to continually or intermittently bypass the muffler system, the sound level test shall be conducted with the device set at the highest producing decibel level.
C.
Noise level limits on waters of the State shall be measured using the procedures contained in the marine environment sound level measurement procedure SAE J2005 which is incorporated by reference in Regulation .02-1 of this chapter.

Regulation .06 Repealed.Copy Citation

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Regulation .07 Economic Hardship Permits.Copy Citation

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A.
The Licensing and Registration Service shall issue the permit on behalf of the Department.
B.
The permit shall be kept on board the vessel and made available for inspection.
C.
The permit shall be valid for 1 calendar year.
D.
Application for a permit may be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources, Licensing and Registration Service.

Regulation .08 Mufflers.Copy Citation

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A person may not own, operate, or give permission to operate on the waters of the State a vessel manufactured after January, 1990, that is not equipped with a muffler or system which muffles or suppresses engine noise to the established limits in Regulation .03 of this chapter. On the waters of Deep Creek Lake and from the mouth of the Northeast and Elk Rivers to include all tributaries including the Bohemia River and the C&D Canal, a vessel shall operate with a continuous muffler or noise suppression system and may not operate a device that bypasses, reduces, or eliminates the effectiveness of a muffler or engine noise suppression device or system.

Regulation .09 Penalties and Fines.Copy Citation

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Violation of any regulation of this chapter is a misdemeanor and is punishable as provided in Natural Resources Article, §8-725.4, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Natural Resources Article, §8-725.4, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: April 16, 1990 (17:7 Md. R. 848)
History: Regulations .01—.08 recodified from COMAR 08.04.15 to 08.18.03 effective February 3, 1992 (19:2 Md. R. 153)
History: Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .02-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; adopted permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective October 9, 1995 (22:20 Md. R. 1542)
History: Regulation .03 amended as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective November 28, 2011 (38:24 Md. R. 1501)
History: Regulation .05 amended as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .05A amended effective October 9, 1995 (22:20 Md. R. 1542)
History: Regulation .06 recodified to .07 and new Regulation .06 adopted effective October 9, 1995 (22:20 Md. R. 1542)
History: Regulation .06 repealed as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .07 amended and recodified to .08 effective October 9, 1995 (22:20 Md. R. 1542)
History: Regulation .07 amended as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .08 recodified to .09 effective October 9, 1995 (22:20 Md. R. 1542)
History: Regulation .08 amended as an emergency provision effective August 19, 1996 (23:18 Md. R. 1313); emergency status extended at 24:4 Md. R. 289; amended permanently effective August 11, 1997 (24:16 Md. R. 1159)
History: Regulation .08 amended effective November 28, 2011 (38:24 Md. R. 1501)