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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 27.01.06.03" title_num="27" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="06" heading="Criteria.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Applicability. The provisions of this regulation apply only to a local jurisdiction in which agriculture exists as a land use in that jurisdiction.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>In developing and updating its Critical Area program, a local jurisdiction shall develop an agricultural protection plan as part of its Critical Area program in cooperation with the local soil conservation district, the county agricultural land preservation advisory board, and any other appropriate agency.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Each agricultural protection plan developed under §B of this regulation shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Consist of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An identification, inventory, and mapping of agricultural land within the Critical Area;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An identification of agricultural land that includes a habitat protection area covered in COMAR 27.01.09; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A program to maintain agricultural land in agricultural use and to protect water quality and plant and wildlife habitats, which shall at least include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Measures to encourage the preservation of agricultural land;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>In accordance with the provisions of COMAR 27.01.09, protection of a habitat protection area located within agricultural land; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>In order to conform to harvest practice requirements in COMAR 27.01.05 and 27.01.09.01-7, a forest management plan for each agricultural operation that harvests timber; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Assure that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Each agricultural operation has in place and is implementing a current:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Soil conservation and water quality plan; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Nutrient management plan prepared by a certified nutrient management consultant or certified farm operator in accordance with COMAR 15.20.04.07 and .08;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Agricultural activities authorized in the buffer are in accordance with COMAR 27.01.09.01-6; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The creation of new agricultural land is not accomplished:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>By diking, draining, or filling of a nontidal wetland, except in accordance with the requirements of COMAR 26.23.05.01;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>By clearing of forest or developed woodland on soil with a slope greater than 15 percent or on soil with a K-factor greater than 0.35 and a slope greater than 5 percent;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>If clearing will adversely affect water quality or will destroy plant or wildlife habitat covered in COMAR 27.01.09.02.—05, as applicable; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>By clearing of existing natural vegetation within the buffer.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>