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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".23" citation="COMAR 26.10.01.23" title_num="26" subtitle_num="10" chapter_num="01" heading="Bonding Requirements for Tank Vessels.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The terms “assets”, “current assets”, “current liabilities”, “liabilities”, “net working capital”, “net worth”, “parent corporation”, and “tangible net worth” as used in §D of this regulation have the meanings stated in 40 CFR §264.141.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Exceptions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The requirements of this regulation do not apply to a public vessel.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An owner and an operator of a tank vessel transferring greater than 25 barrels of oil in bulk as cargo in waters of the State may not be required to obtain a bond or other security for the tank vessel if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The tank vessel is carrying oil removed from:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Waters of the State as the result of a spill, release, or discharge or at the request of the Department, the federal government, or a person responsible for the discharge; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Another vessel because of the threat of a spill, release, or discharge into waters of the State; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The tank vessel is not owned or operated by the person responsible for the discharge resulting in the need for removal of oil from waters of the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Bonding Requirement. Upon entering waters of the State to transfer greater than 25 barrels of oil in bulk as cargo, an owner and an operator of a tank vessel shall post a bond or other security as set forth in §D of this regulation:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In the amount of $500 per gross ton of tank vessel; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In a form approved by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Other Acceptable Forms of Security. In lieu of posting a bond, an owner and an operator of a tank vessel may satisfy the requirement under §C of this regulation by posting another acceptable form of security that meets the conditions under §D(1) or (2) of this regulation:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A certification signed by a certified public accountant that the owner and the operator of the tank vessel has:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Two out of the three following ratios:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A ratio of total liabilities to net worth of less than 2.0;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A ratio of the sum of net income plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization to total liabilities of greater than 0.1; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A ratio of current assets to current liabilities of greater than 1.5;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Net working capital and tangible net worth that are individually at least six times the bond amount required under §C(1) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Tangible net worth of at least $10,000,000; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Assets located in the United States amounting to at least:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>90 percent of total assets; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Six times the bond amount required under §C(1) of this regulation; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A certification signed by a certified public accountant that the owner and the operator of the tank vessel has:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A current rating for the most recent bond issuance of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>AAA, AA, A, or BBB as issued by the Standard and Poor’s (S&amp;P); or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Aaa, Aa, A, or Baa as issued by Moody’s;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A parent corporation that meets the requirements of §D(1)(b)—(d) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An absolute guaranty by the parent corporation of the owner and the operator of the tank vessel.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>An owner and an operator of a tank vessel may satisfy §C of this regulation by offering proof to the Department of a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility issued to the owner and the operator of the tank vessel by the USCG under 33 CFR Part 138 for each tank vessel of the owner and the operator entering waters of the State.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Department may waive the requirements of this regulation if the Department determines that the bonds or other securities required under this regulation are not generally available.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Bond Forfeiture.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the Department determines that a spill, release, or discharge into waters of the State originated from a tank vessel, the bond or other security posted by the owner and the operator of the tank vessel is forfeited and becomes due and payable to the Department to the extent of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The costs incurred by the Department to eliminate the residue of the oil spill, release, or discharge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Damage caused to the natural and recreational resources of the State; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any uncollectible penalty levied against the owner and the operator of the tank vessel; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If a bond or other security is forfeited to the Department as described in §G(1) of this regulation, an owner and an operator of a tank vessel shall post a new bond or other security for the tank vessel in accordance with §C of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>