# COMAR Title 26 — Department of the Environment

## Subtitle 08 — Water Pollution

### Chapter 03 — Discharge Limitations

#### Regulation .04 Representative Important Species.

*COMAR 26.08.03.04*

Representative important species (RIS) are those species selected by the applicant and approved by the Department that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:

A. Species that are sensitive to adverse harm from operations of the facility (for example, heat-sensitive species);

B. Species that use the local area as spawning or nursery grounds, or both, including those species that migrate past the facility to spawn;

C. Species of commercial or recreational value, or both;

D. Species that are habitat formers and are critical to the functioning of the local ecosystem;

E. Species that are important links in the local food web;

F. Rare, threatened, or endangered species;

G. Potential nuisance organisms likely to be enhanced by plant operations.