1476                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 702

CHAPTER 702
(Senate Bill 689)

AN ACT to add new Sections 447 to [[453]] 451, inclusive, to Article 41 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume and 1972
Supplement), title "Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments," to
follow immediately after Section 446 thereof and to be under new subtitle "43.
Maryland Environmental Policy Act," declaring the policy of the State in
relation to the environment; declaring each person has a fundamental and
inalienable right to a healthful environment; defining certain terms in
relationship to this subtitle; declaring certain responsibilities and duties of State
agencies; directing that environmental [[impact statements]] effects reports be
prepared in conjunction with all proposed State actions significantly affecting
the quality of the environment; and providing for the issuance of guidelines by
the [[Governor, or his designated agent,]] Secretary of Natural Resources for
the implementation of the environmental [impact statement]] effects reports
requirement [[; providing the Governor with the power to allow an action to be
taken in an emergency based on a certain finding; providing the Governor with
the power to delay a proposed State action based on a certain finding; requiring
State agencies to prepare and submit annual environmental review reports; and
creating a Joint Committee on the Environment]].

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Sections 447 to [[453]] 451, inclusive, be and they are
hereby added to Article 41 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Governor - Executive and
Administrative Departments," to follow immediately after Section 446 thereof and
to be under the new subtitle "43. Maryland Environmental Policy Act," and to
read as follows:

43. MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT

447.  SHORT TITLE.

THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE "MARYLAND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT."

448.  DECLARATION OF POLICY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND FINDS AND DECLARES
THAT:

(A)   THE PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND ENHANCEMENT
OF THE STATE'S DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE
CONTINUED VIABILITY OF THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE AND IS A
MATTER OF THE HIGHEST PUBLIC PRIORITY;

(B)   ALL STATE AGENCIES MUST CONDUCT THEIR AFFAIRS
WITH AN AWARENESS THAT THEY ARE STEWARDS OF THE AIR,
LAND, WATER, AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND THAT THEY HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE USE
AND ENJOYMENT OF THIS AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS;

(C)  EACH PERSON HAS A FUNDAMENTAL AND INALIENABLE
RIGHT TO A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT, AND EACH PERSON HAS
A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROTECTION,