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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 26.24.04.03" title_num="26" subtitle_num="24" chapter_num="04" heading="Marinas.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In addition to the requirements of COMAR 26.24.02.02, an applicant for a new marina or marina expansion is required to submit the following information at the time of application:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An alternatives analysis, including the alternative of no action, with the potential impacts on water quality, tidal wetland values, and aquatic habitat discussed for each alternative for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Marina location;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Construction methods;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Configuration of project components;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Dimensions; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Related facilities;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A bathymetric survey of the proposed marina site;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A description of the marina facility, including the number of slips, breakwaters, or jetties;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A description of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Marina support facilities including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Parking;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Storm water management facilities;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Concessions;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Boat sales;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Boat repair;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Hauling;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Dry storage;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Sewage pumpout facilities;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ix)">
          <text>Utilities;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(x)">
          <text>Swimming pools;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(xi)">
          <text>Restaurants; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(xii)">
          <text>Lodging facilities; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Techniques to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of the facilities in §A(4)(a) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A description of the impact of the marina on State or federal navigation channels located within 3,000 feet of the project;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>A description of the existing site characteristics, including water quality in the project area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Location of materials such as submerged cables, piles, pipelines, or debris to be removed during construction, as well as measures for disposal;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Location of boat repair, cleaning, wet and dry storage facilities, fueling facilities, and other boat service facilities;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>The location of the areas in which antifouling compounds for boat bottom painting, waste oil, washwater, and other pollutants are used;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>A description and plan of the method proposed to manage water quality associated with storm water runoff; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>A flushing study for basins dredged into upland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>If the proposed new marina or marina expansion includes dredging and dredge disposal, the information requirements and design guidelines in COMAR 26.24.03.02—.05 shall be met.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Based on project size and scope, environmental sensitivity of the project site, and potential adverse impacts to tidal wetlands, the Department may, with notice to the applicant by telephone, letter, or meeting, require information in addition to §§A and B of this regulation. The Department recommends that an applicant consult with the Department before developing and submitting the following information:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The predicted short-term and long-term direct and indirect impacts on water quality, tidal wetland values, and aquatic habitat;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Increased noise levels, boat wakes, pollutant loading, and other project-related impacts;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Possible interference with water currents and impacts on littoral drift, sediment deposition, and shoaling;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Impacts on water circulation and flushing within the project area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Other alterations of tidal wetlands and the impact on biological productivity;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Schedules, monitoring programs, or other provisions to be used during construction, operation, and maintenance to reduce or avoid adverse environmental impacts and to keep erosion, turbidity, and siltation at the lowest possible levels;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Special provisions to be used to enhance the environment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>The long-term public gain expected from the project such as:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Employment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Tax yields;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Reduction of existing pollution; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Enhancement of public access to the water;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Estimated frequency of maintenance dredging, the volume of materials to be dredged over the life of the project, and site or sites to be used for disposal of these materials;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>A description of how the speed, numbers, and directional movements of boat traffic will:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be controlled in and out of the marina;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Impact commercial navigation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Impact boats kept at the proposed marina facility, with the techniques to minimize the adverse impact of boat wakes on the proposed facility being addressed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>A plan to minimize oil spillage into the basin and to identify contingencies for oil spill containment and removal.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Pumpout Facilities.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A person may not construct additional slips at an existing property that would result in a total capacity of more than ten slips or construct a new marina with more than ten slips unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The marina has a wastewater collection and treatment system that is adequate to handle any existing and proposed flows and is approved by the local health department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>There is a pumpout station on-site that is adequate to handle the increased sewage capacity from vessels that use the marina and that is operable and accessible at reasonable times; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The marina has a contract with a pumpout facility that is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Located not more than 2 miles from the marina;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Adequate to handle the increased sewage capacity from vessels that use the marina, as determined by the local health department; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Operable and accessible at reasonable times.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Wastewater collection and treatment facilities may be required, in consultation with the Department, if the marina:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Has a capacity of more than 25 slips;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Has a capacity of ten or more slips that are designed to accommodate boats of 25 feet or more in length; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Is located off the main stem of the major river tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays or in sensitive areas identified for no pollutant discharge by the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Vessel Mooring Facilities. The placement of buoys, group mooring buoys, and other apparatus used to secure, berth, or moor vessels in the waters of the State shall conform to the requirements of COMAR 08.04.13.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Marina Management Plan. The location of all new marinas or expansion of an existing marina shall be consistent with a marina management plan, if any, that has been approved by the local government. If there is a conflict between a local marina management plan and this subtitle, the more stringent regulation takes priority.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Marina Siting Guidelines.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>New marina development and the expansion of existing marinas shall be located:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To avoid and minimize impacts to tidal wetlands and other aquatic resources; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>On waterways with strong flushing characterized by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A bottom which slopes from headwaters to mouth without sumps or other features which inhibit complete water exchange;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The waterway has an unconstricted entrance; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The waterway has few branches, coves, and other features which inhibit complete mixing.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>New marina development and expansion of existing marinas may not be located in areas where:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The natural depth is 4.5 feet or less at mean low water unless the marina basin is excavated from upland; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Their presence would adversely impact submerged aquatic vegetation, productive macroinvertebrate communities, shellfish beds, fish spawning or nursery areas, rare, threatened, or endangered species, or species in need of conservation, or historic waterfowl staging areas.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Expansion of existing marinas is favored over development of new marinas.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>