<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 15.06.04.02" title_num="15" subtitle_num="06" chapter_num="04" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Classify as a prohibited invasive plant” means the Secretary is including an invasive plant on the Consolidated List of Maryland Invasive Plant Species in accordance with the Agriculture Article, §§9.5-301 and 9.5-301.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Commercial entity” means an entity that engages in a plant removal activity for profit.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Committee” means the Invasive Plants Advisory Committee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Consolidated List of Maryland Invasive Plant Species” means a list of plant species classified as prohibited invasive plants in accordance with Agriculture Article §§9.5-301 and 9.5-301.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Plant Species” means a nonnative plant species that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Is not yet widespread in the State but is at risk of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Becoming established as an invasive species; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Causing significant damage; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Has:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Been found in at least one native species habitat in the State; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Not yet been found in the State.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Expert Assessor” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An individual or a team within the Department or the Department of Natural Resources; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A qualified independent assessor.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Invasive plant.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Invasive Plant means any living part of a plant species or its subspecies that did not evolve in the State and if introduced within the State, will cause or is likely to cause, as determined by the Secretary:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Economic harm;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Ecological harm;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Environmental harm; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Harm to human health.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Invasive plant” includes a commercial or noncommercial plant that is terrestrial or aquatic and meets the definition under §B(7)(a) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Invasive Plant Species Status Assessment Protocol” means a protocol based on the NatureServe’s 2004 protocol (An Invasive Species Assessment Protocol: Evaluating Non-Native Plants for the Impact on Biodiversity. Version 1.)</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Invasiveness Rank” means a rank assigned to a nonnative species to signify its level of invasiveness (i.e., high, medium, low or insignificant) based on the results of an invasive assessment protocol.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Landscaping services” includes services for ornamental horticultural design, maintenance, and installation of living plants.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Prohibited invasive plant” includes invasive plant species that cause or are likely to cause severe harm within the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Qualified independent assessor” means an individual or team that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Possesses at least 2 years of field experience in invasive plant species in Maryland or in nearby jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Has assessed invasive plant species without supervision from the Department, the Department of Natural Resources or the Committee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Watch List” means a list of plant species that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Have been assessed by an expert assessor in accordance with Agriculture Article, §9.5-301, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Were not determined by the assessment to be eligible for classification as a prohibited invasive plant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>May be reassessed in the future.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>