472                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                            [Ch. 4

ENVIRONMENT, AN ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A DISCUSSION OF:

(1)   THE EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING ADVERSE AND BENEFICIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT ARE REASONABLY LIKELY IF
THE PROPOSAL IS IMPLEMENTED OR IF IT IS NOT

IMPLEMENTED;

(2)   MEASURES THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE
POTENTIAL ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MAXIMIZE
POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, INCLUDING
MONITORING, MAINTENANCE, REPLACEMENT, OPERATION, AND
OTHER FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES; AND

(3)    REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED
ACTION THAT MIGHT HAVE LESS ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS OR GREATER BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS,
INCLUDING, THE ALTERNATIVE OF NO ACTION.

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

(1)    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)   THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PREPARATION OF SINGLE
PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORTS IF A SERIES OF
ACTIONS TAKEN INDIVIDUALLY ARE OF MINIMAL SIGNIFICANCE
BUT IF THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE ACTIONS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT IS SIGNIFICANT OR IF A SERIES OF ACTIONS
ARE RELATED EITHER GEOGRAPHICALLY OR AS LOGICAL PARTS
IN A CHAIN OF CONTEMPLATED ACTIONS;

(3)    THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PREPARATION OF
MODIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORTS ON REMAINING
DECISIONS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE PARTS OF ACTIONS BEGUN BEFORE BUT
NOT COMPLETED BY JULY 1, 1974; AND

(4)    THE ISSUANCE OF GUIDELINES, IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THIS SUBTITLE AND PURSUANT TO THE GUIDELINES
ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, FOR THE
PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORTS BY EACH