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<chapter num="03" heading="General Approval of State and Local Agency Programs Which Result in Development of Local Significance on Private Lands or Lands Owned by Local Jurisdictions" title_num="27" subtitle_num="02">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definition.">
    <text>In this chapter, “minor development” has the meaning stated in COMAR 27.02.01.01.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Criteria.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Rather than obtaining certification for an individual project or action, as provided in COMAR 27.02.02, a State or local agency may seek a general approval from the Commission for a program or class of activities that will result in development of local significance in the Critical Area, such as forest management plans and soil conservation and water quality plans.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Agencies wishing to apply for general approval shall submit the following information to the Commission:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A description of the program or class of activities;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>An assessment of the extent to which development resulting from the program or class of activities will be consistent with the criteria described in COMAR 27.01; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A proposed process by which the program or class of activities could be so conducted as to conform with the requirements of COMAR 27.01.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The Commission shall seek comments from affected local jurisdictions in the Critical Area on any proposed general approval for State or local agency programs or activities.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The Commission may approve requests for general approval upon considering the comments of the affected local jurisdictions and after finding that the programs or activities conform with the requirements of COMAR 27.01 and will not cause any significant adverse effects on the growth allocation of a local jurisdiction as described in COMAR 27.01.02.06. In approving these requests, the Commission may condition, or request modifications to, the program or class of activities. The Commission may also establish a termination date for any general approval and specify the conditions by which an agency shall be required to seek renewal of a general approval.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The Commission may revoke a general approval with 90 days notice to the affected State or local agency, if the Commission finds that the agency has failed to follow the process described in §B(3), above.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>Appeal of the Commission's decision may be made in accordance with the provisions of COMAR 27.02.08.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Natural Resources Article, §8-1814, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: June 11, 1988 (15:7 Md. R. 852)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">COMAR 14.19.03 recodified to COMAR 27.02.03 in August, 1992</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">COMAR 14.19.03 recodified to COMAR 27.02.03 in August, 1992</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A amended effective September 6, 2021 (48:18 Md. R. 694)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 recodified to be Regulation .02 effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 adopted effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>