§ 8-1801. Legislative findings, purpose of Subtitle
West's Annotated Code of MarylandNatural ResourcesEffective: April 14, 2009
Effective: April 14, 2009
MD Code, Natural Resources, § 8-1801
§ 8-1801. Legislative findings, purpose of Subtitle
(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(4) Human activity is harmful in these shoreline areas, where the new development of nonwater-dependent structures or an increase in lot coverage is presumed to be contrary to the purpose of this subtitle, because these activities may cause adverse impacts, of both an immediate and a long-term nature, to the Chesapeake and the Atlantic Coastal Bays, and thus it is necessary wherever possible to maintain a buffer of at least 100 feet landward from the mean high water line of tidal waters, tributary streams, and tidal wetlands;
(5) National studies have documented that the quality and productivity of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have declined due to the cumulative effects of human activity that have caused increased levels of pollutants, nutrients, and toxics in the Bay system and declines in more protective land uses such as forestland and agricultural land in the Bay region;
(10) There is a critical and substantial State interest for the benefit of current and future generations in fostering more sensitive development and more effective enforcement in a consistent and uniform manner along shoreline areas of the Chesapeake and the Atlantic Coastal Bays and their tributaries so as to minimize damage to water quality and natural habitats.
(b) It is the purpose of the General Assembly in enacting this subtitle:
Credits
Added by Acts 1984, c. 794, § 1, eff. June 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1990, c. 6, § 2, eff. Feb. 16, 1990; Acts 1991, c. 55, § 1, eff. April 9, 1991; Acts 2002, c. 431, § 1, eff. June 1, 2002; Acts 2002, c. 432, § 1, eff. June 1, 2002; Acts 2002, c. 433, § 1, eff. June 1, 2002; Acts 2004, c. 25, § 1, eff. April 13, 2004; Acts 2004, c. 526, § 1, eff. June 1, 2004; Acts 2008, c. 119, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2009, c. 60, § 1, eff. April 14, 2009.
MD Code, Natural Resources, § 8-1801, MD NAT RES § 8-1801
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.
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