<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 26.08.03.01" title_num="26" subtitle_num="08" chapter_num="03" heading="Effluent Limitations.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Prohibited Discharges. The following discharges to the waters of this State are prohibited:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The discharge of any wastes or waste waters regardless of volume unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Authorized by a discharge permit, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Subject to control or modification required by a schedule of compliance established by this State;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The discharge of any pollutant in toxic amounts including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Substances which accumulate to toxic amounts during the expected life of organisms in the surface water, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Substances which produce deleterious behavioral effects on the organisms;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The discharge of any radiological, chemical, or biological warfare agent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The discharge of any high level radioactive waste;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Any discharge which would substantially impair anchorage and navigation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Any discharge to which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has objected in writing under the Federal Act;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Any discharge which is in conflict with a plan approved by this State;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>The discharge of sewage from vessels while moored, berthed, or docked in waters of this State except through a federally and State-approved marine sanitation device;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>The discharge of sewage or other wastes from vessels to the waters of Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, Maryland; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>The discharge of sewage from vessels to the waters of this State, designated as restricted zones. These zones shall be designated:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Wherever greater environmental protection and enhancement is required, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>According to the procedures outlined in the Federal Act.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The following areas of the waters of the State are designated as no discharge zones, where the discharge of sewage from marine sanitation devices located on vessels is prohibited:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Herring Bay no discharge zone which encompasses all tidal waters of Herring Bay and its tributaries westerly of a line beginning at a point at or near Holland Point defined by Lat. 38°43'34.9" N., Long 76°31'37.3" W., then running approximately 352° (true) to a point at or near Crab Pile A defined by Lat. 38°46'33.0" N., Long. 76°32'10.1" W., then running approximately 354° (true) to a point at or near the north shore of Parker Creek defined by Lat. 38°46'39.1" N., Long. 76°32'10.8" W.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Northern Coastal Bays no discharge zone which encompasses all the tidal waters of Ocean City Inlet, Sinepuxent Bay, Isle of Wight Bay, Assawoman Bay, and their tributaries, upstream (West) of a line beginning at a point at or near the east end of the north Ocean City Inlet jetty, defined by Lat. 38°19'27.0" N., Long. 75° 05' 5.5" W., then running approximately 248° (true) to a point at or near the east end of the south Ocean City Inlet jetty, defined by Lat. 38°19'20.7" N., Long. 75°05'24.8" W., and north of a line across the north end of Sinepuxent Bay beginning at a point at or near the southeast entrance of the Ocean City commercial fish harbor (Swordfish Basin) defined by Lat. 38°19'37.0" N., Long. 75°06'6.0" W., then running approximately 110° (true) to a point at or near the shore at the northwest tip of Assateague Island defined by Lat. 38°19'32.0" N., Long. 75°05'49.0" W., and south of the Maryland-Delaware line beginning at a point at or near the east side of Assawoman Bay defined by Lat. 38°27'4.5" N., Long. 75°04'11.2" W., then running approximately 270° (true) to a point at or near the west side of Assawoman Bay defined by Lat. 38°27'4.4" N., Long. 75°05'09.3" W.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Chester River no discharge zone, which encompasses all the tidal waters of the Chester River and its tributaries. The delineation will begin at 39°08'54.48? N., 76°16'37.11" W. and extend down to 39°02'23.56" N., 76°18'8.89" W. From there it will continue east throughout any navigable waters, including all tributaries and bays. Included within this zone are Lankford Bay, Corsica River, Southeast Creek, and many smaller tributaries.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The waters of Anne Arundel County in 13 enumerated rivers, coves, and embayments as described in the following table:</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The provisions in §B(4) of this regulation are effective for all vessels on July 1, 2022, with the exception of United States Coast Guard Inspected Passenger Vessels as defined in 46 CFR Chapter I , Subchapter T, Small Passenger Vessels (Under 100 Gross Tons), for which this regulation will become effective on July 1, 2025.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Controlled Discharges.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Discharge Permitted. The discharge of waters, wastes, or wastewaters to the waters of this State is permitted if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The discharge does not contravene the surface water quality standards established by this State to protect legitimate beneficial water uses;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The discharge complies with the discharge permit requirements for:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Effluent limitations,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Schedules of compliance, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The use of the best available technology;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The discharge is authorized by a discharge permit subject to conditions and restrictions imposed in the permit; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The discharge is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Dredge spoil resulting from an effluent returning to the waters of this State from an approved dredge spoils disposal area,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Material excavated from the sediments underlying surface waters and placed in another part of the water, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Material placed in suspension in the water as part of a dredging or construction project authorized by the Department.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Best Available Technology.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Before establishing effluent limitations for any point source, the Department shall give careful consideration to necessary and practicable effluent limitations to achieve compliance with surface water quality standards (COMAR 26.08.02.01—.08) or ground water quality standards (COMAR 26.08.02.09). This consideration shall include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Information provided as part of the discharge permit application;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Information available from discharge permit monitoring reports; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Any other information provided by the applicant or required by the Department.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Best available technology shall be required as the minimum for all permitted discharges. If it is determined that compliance with the established water quality standards will not be achieved through BAT, additional treatment shall be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Required; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Based on waste load allocation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Nutrient Control. This State recognizes that certain surface waters of this State are eutrophic or are approaching eutrophic conditions. All discharges to these surface waters shall be treated as necessary to reduce eutrophic effects. This State shall require that wastewaters containing nutrients which cause or contribute to eutrophication be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Given advanced waste treatment before discharge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Disposed of by spray irrigation on land; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Disposed of by other practicable procedures which will avoid direct discharge to surface waters.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Use of Material Balance.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Department may require that the operator of the facility involved conduct a material balance with the accuracy and precision necessary to account for environmentally significant losses of material in any instance when:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Pollution of the waters of this State is likely to occur as a result of discharge or loss of toxic substances; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Department determines the need for materials control to prevent water pollution.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If a material balance is required, the Department shall review and approve:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The procedure to be used;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The frequency of the determinations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The units of measurements;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The methods of calculations, management, and record; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Any other specific requirements considered necessary.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Information developed by the operator of a facility as a consequence of making a material balance shall be made available to the Department of the Environment on demand.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>