Ch. 702                           MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                1479

[[(3)]] (2) MEASURES THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE
POTENTIAL ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL [[IMPACTS]] EFFECTS
AND MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS,          INCLUDING          MONITORING,          MAINTENANCE,

REPLACEMENT, OPERATION, AND OTHER FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES:
AND

[[(4)]] (3) REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED
ACTION THAT MIGHT HAVE LESS ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS OR, GREATER BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS,
INCLUDING, [[,BUT NOT LIMITED TO]] THE ALTERNATIVE OF NO
ACTION.

(B) THE [[GOVERNOR, OR HIS DESIGNATED AGENT]]
SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31,
1973, SHALL ISSUE GUIDELINES TO ASSIST STATE AGENCIES IN
THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL [[IMPACT STATE-
MENTS]] EFFECTS REPORTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
SUBTITLE AND PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC NOTICE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 245(C) OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF
MARYLAND INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVISION FOR:

(1)      [[CRITERIA FOR STATE AGENCIES TO FOLLOW IN
DETERMINING IF A PROPOSED STATE ACTION MAY
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT]]
COMMENT UPON THE PROPOSED STATE ACTION BY PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH JURISDICTION
BY LAW, SPECIAL EXPERTISE, OR RECOGNIZED INTEREST PRIOR
TO THE REQUEST FOR LEGISLATION;

(2)   [[PROVISION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR, OR HIS
DESIGNEE, OF PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS ON ANY STATE ACTIONS THAT MIGHT ARGUABLY
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,
THAT SHALL BE ADEQUATE TO PERMIT REASONED COMMENT
UPON THE PROPOSAL AND THAT SHALL INCLUDE A DECLAR-
ATION OF INTENT OF WHETHER OR NOT TO PREPARE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION
451(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE;

(3)     PROVISION FOR ADEQUATE PUBLIC NOTICE AND
AVAILABILITY OF PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS AND FOR COMMENT ON SUCH STATEMENTS TO
GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH JURISDICTION BY LAW, SPECIAL EXPERTISE,
OR RECOGNIZED INTEREST;

(4)  DESIGNATION BY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CATEGORY OF
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH JURISDICTION BY LAW
OR SPECIAL EXPERTISE;

(5)    PROVISION FOR INCLUSION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENTS OF MEANINGFUL REFERENCE TO
SIGNIFICANT OPPOSING VIEWS;

(6)    ESTABLISHMENT OF MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS ARE PREPARED IN TIME
TO ENSURE THAT THEY ACCOMPANY PROPOSALS THROUGH THE
DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND ARE ACTIVELY CONSIDERED