2662

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 553

Public Works, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969
Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 78A - Public Works

CONSOLIDATED PERMIT PROCEDURES

56.   FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

(A)    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT ONEROUS
BURDENS ARE PLACED ON PERSONS UNDERTAKING DEVELOPMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BY REASON OF THE VARYING AND TIME
CONSUMING PROCEDURES IN OBTAINING NECESSARY PERMITS FROM
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER
FINDS THAT THE PRESENT METHODS FOR PERMITTING PUBLIC
COMMENT IN RELATION TO SUCH PROJECTS ARE CUMBERSOME AND
TIME CONSUMING, AND PLACE UNDUE HARDSHIP ON MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, THEREBY INHIBITING THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO
PRESENT ITS VIEWS TO STATE AND LOCAL PERMIT GRANTING
AGENCIES.

(B)    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES THAT IT IS
DESIRABLE TO PROVIDE FOR A CONSOLIDATION OF THE
FACT-FINDING PROCESSES INVOLVED IN ISSUING THESE VARIOUS
PERMITS IN ORDER (1) TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY DELAY,
UNREASONABLE EXPENSE, AND DUPLICATION OF EFFORT IN
OBTAINING NECESSARY PERMITS, THEREBY FOSTERING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS WHICH ARE IN THE ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF
MARYLAND; AND (2) TO REMOVE IMPEDIMENTS TO THE EFFECTIVE
EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE PROJECTS, THEREBY
SAFEGUARDING AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF PROJECTS WHICH ARE
NOT IN THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEREST
OF THE CITIZENS OF MARYLAND.

(C)    THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBTITLE IS TO COORDINATE
ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION MAKING BY (1) CONSOLIDATING
APPLICATION PROCEDURES TO ASSIST THOSE PERSONS WHO MUST
OBTAIN PERMITS FROM ONE OR MOPE LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES;
AND (2) CONSOLIDATING NECESSARY HEARINGS TO ASSIST STATE
AND LOCAL AGENCIES IN OBTAINING ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO APPLICATIONS WHICH MUST BE ACTED UPON BY
THEM.

57.   DEFINITIONS

(A)    IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED UNLESS THE CONTEXT OF THEIR USE
REQUIRES OTHERWISE.

(B) "COUNTY" INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY.

(C) "LOCAL GOVERNMENT" MEANS A COUNTY OR A