2068                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                            Ch. 751

AN ACT concerning

Overhead Transmission Lines

FOR the purpose of providing for the participation of
certain state agencies in hearings before the Public
Service Commission concerning overhead transmission
lines and generally relating to approval of overhead
transmission lines.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 54A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 54A of Article 78 - Public Service
Commission Law, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1975
Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) be and it is
hereby repealed and reenacted, with amendments, to read
as follows:

Article 78 — Public Service Commission Law

54A.

No electric company may begin the construction in
Maryland of a generating station or any overhead
transmission line designed to carry a voltage in excess
of 69,000 volts, or exercise the right of eminent domain
in connection therewith, without having first obtained
from the Commission a certificate of public convenience
and necessity for the construction of the station or
line. UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION, THE COMMISSION
SHALL NOTIFY ALL INTERESTED PERSONS [[INCLUDING THE
FOLLOWING AGENCIES: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE PLANNING, AND DEPARTMENT

OF AGRICULTURE]] , THIS WILL INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF

STATE PLANNING WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FORWARDING THE

APPLICATION TO APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES AND UNITS OF

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR REVIEW, EVALUATION AND COMMENT AS TO

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSAL TO STATE, AREAWIDE AND

LOCAL PLANS OR PROGRAMS. The Commission shall hold a
public hearing on each application for a certificate of
public convenience and necessity in the area in which any
portion of the construction of a generating station or an
overhead transmission line designed to carry a voltage in
excess of 69,000 volts is proposed to be located,
together with the local governing bodies of each such
area, unless any governing body wishes not to participate
in the hearing. THE COMMISSION SHALL INSURE PRESENTATION
OF THE INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INTERESTED
STATE AGENCIES AND SHALL PERMIT REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE