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§ 5-501. Declaration of policy

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEnvironmentEffective: June 1, 2011

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Environment
Title 5. Water Resources (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5. Appropriation or Use of Waters, Reservoirs, and Dams (Refs & Annos)
Effective: June 1, 2011
MD Code, Environment, § 5-501
§ 5-501. Declaration of policy
Currentness
Policy
(a) In order to conserve, protect, and use water resources of the State in accordance with the best interests of the people of Maryland, it is the policy of the State to control, so far as feasible, appropriation or use of surface waters and groundwaters of the State. Also, it is State policy to promote public safety and welfare and control and supervise, so far as is feasible, construction, reconstruction, and repair of dams, reservoirs, and other waterworks in any waters of the State.
Priority in appropriating groundwater in Carroll, Frederick, or Washington counties
(b)(1) In accordance with the policy declared in this section, and provided that it will not jeopardize the State's natural resources, when appropriating groundwater of the State in Carroll, Frederick, or Washington counties, the Department may give priority to a public water system that provides water to:
(i) A municipal corporation, not including those areas annexed after January 1, 2000; or
(ii) A priority funding area established on or before January 1, 2000, under § 5-7B-02(6) of the State Finance and Procurement Article.
(2) The Department may adopt regulations to implement this subsection.
Construction of subtitle with other existing law
(c) This subtitle is in addition to and not in substitution for any existing laws of the State.

Credits

Added by Acts 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 4, § 1. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 305; Acts 1990, c. 6, § 2. Renumbered from Natural Resources § 8-801 by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2008, c. 197, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2008, c. 198, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2011, c. 65, § 5, eff. April 12, 2011.
Formerly Art. 96A, §§ 10, 22.
MD Code, Environment, § 5-501, MD ENVIR § 5-501
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document