<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 27.02.05.03" title_num="27" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="05" heading="Criteria for Development by a State Agency on State-Owned Land.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The following general criteria are applicable to development by a State agency on State-owned land:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>To the maximum extent practicable, a State agency shall locate development outside the Critical Area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A State agency may not locate a solid or hazardous waste acceptance facility on State-owned land in the Critical Area; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Except in the buffer, a State agency may apply, or authorize the application of, sludge in the Critical Area if the application:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Occurs on agricultural or horticultural land; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>When a permit is required, is in accordance with the permit issued by the Department of the Environment.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>When a State agency proposes development on State-owned land in the Critical Area, the agency:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall demonstrate to the Commission that the development project has received all applicable federal and State authorizations, including approvals related to stormwater management and soil erosion and sediment control;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall comply with the habitat protection area requirements under Regulations.09—.13 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Shall, to the maximum extent practicable:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Incorporate and maintain a wildlife corridor system, including all habitat protection areas near the development project, so as to connect the largest, most vegetated tracts of land within, adjacent to, or near the development project and provide continuity of existing wildlife and plant habitats with other off-site habitat areas;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Preserve, protect, and maintain a potential wetland migration area:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Within the area of the development project; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Adjacent to the area of the development project, if the agency owns the adjacent land or the adjacent land is within the agency’s legally enforceable right-of-way;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Establish areas of public access to the shoreline, including foot paths, scenic drives, and other public recreational facilities;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Maintain all forest and developed woodland designated on the development plans;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Increase or, if an increase is not possible, maintain the total acreage of forest cover in the Critical Area; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Cluster development activities;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>When cutting or clearing trees located in a forest or developed woodland or altering a forest or developed woodland, shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Design and implement a development project so as to minimize the clearing of forest and developed woodland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Protect an area identified as a habitat protection area; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Replace all forest and developed woodland that is cut or cleared in the Critical Area at a ratio of at least 1:1, except:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>In accordance with a management plan for a habitat protection area that has been approved by the Commission;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>As specified under §B(10) of this regulation; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>As provided under Regulation .03-2 or .03-3 of this chapter;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If development is likely to result in an adverse off-site impact on the Critical Area of a local jurisdiction, shall, with the proposal and findings required under Regulation .02 of this chapter, describe:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All expected off-site impacts on the local jurisdiction’s Critical Area; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>All alternatives pursued by the agency in order to minimize the off-site impacts, including any measures proposed to mitigate these impacts;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Except as authorized under §E(1) of this regulation, may not locate a development project on a site where that project or a related project would cross or impact a stream;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Except as authorized under §E(2) of this regulation, may not locate a road, bridge, or utility in a habitat protection area designated under COMAR 27.01.09;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Shall demonstrate to the Commission that the development will comply with all stormwater pollutant reduction requirements that are applicable under the Critical Area Program;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Shall demonstrate to the Commission that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In determining the proposed location, the agency has considered the likelihood of inundation by sea level rise over the course of the design life of the development; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The development identifies and incorporates climate resilient practices in order to avoid or, if avoidance is not possible, minimize environmental and structural damage associated with a coastal hazard, an extreme weather event, sea level rise, and other impacts; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Shall replant at a ratio of at least 3:1 of the entire areal extent of a cleared forest or developed woodland if the agency:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Clears the forest or developed woodland before obtaining Commission approval;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Clears the forest or developed woodland before obtaining all applicable federal and State authorizations under §B(1) of this regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Exceeds the maximum removal area approved by the Commission under Regulation .03-2C(1) or D of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>If a detrimental impact to a potential wetland migration area under §B(3)(b) of this regulation is unavoidable, a State agency shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Demonstrate to the Commission why that impact is unavoidable;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provide an assessment of the ecological features on site that could be enhanced, restored, or created in order to maintain existing wetland functions and to provide additional protection against future sea level rise and coastal storm impacts; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Make recommendations regarding the most feasible methods to address the detrimental impact and the enhancement, restoration, and creation of natural features on site.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>When an area of public access is established under §B(3)(c) of this regulation, a State agency shall demonstrate to the Commission that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The location and design of the project will minimize impacts from coastal hazards and sea level rise; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Long-term access has been considered.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>A State agency may locate:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Development on a site where the project would cross or impact a stream if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>No practicable alternative exists for the location of the development; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The agency designs, builds, and maintains the development project so as to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Prevent or, if prevention is not possible, accommodate an increase in flood frequency and severity that is attributable to the development project;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Accommodate foreseeable changes in hydrologic conditions, including an increase in tidal inundation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Retain tree canopy to maintain stream water temperature within normal variation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Provide a natural substrate for the streambed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Minimize adverse impacts on water quality and quantity from stormwater; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A road, bridge, or utility in a habitat protection area if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>No practicable alternative exists for the location of the road, bridge, or utility; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The agency designs, builds, and maintains the road, bridge, or utility so as to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Provide maximum protection from erosion;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Avoid or, if avoidance is not possible, minimize negative impacts on fish, wildlife,  plants, and their habitats; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Maintain hydrologic processes and water quality.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>A State agency:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall provide an offset if the stormwater management technology authorized under §B(8) of this regulation does not reduce pollutant loading by at least 10 percent:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Of the predevelopment level, for new development; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Below the level of pollution on site before redevelopment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>May provide the offset off site if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An on-site offset is not practicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Water quality benefits off site are equivalent to those that would be achieved on site;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Water quality benefits are achieved in the same watershed as the development project; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Water quality benefits are demonstrable through the use of modeling, monitoring, or other computation measures of mitigation acceptable to the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>If a State agency proposes development on State-owned land under the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Coastal Bays, or their tidal tributaries, the agency shall demonstrate to the Commission that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The development project has received all applicable federal and State authorizations; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Development on any fastland created by the agency will be consistent with the requirements of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>