BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

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declaratory and equitable relief for the protection of
the air, water, and other natural resources of the
State of Maryland; delineating the rights and duties of
persons involved in the actions, including the Attorney
General and the appropriate agencies and officials of
the State of Maryland and of its political
subdivisions; broadening the concept of "standing to
sue" in environmental litigation; and generally
relating to the subject of court actions and
administrative actions involving environmental
protection.

BY adding to

Article — Natural resources

Section 1—501 through 1—508 to be under the new

subtitle "Subtitle 5. Environmental Standing

Act"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article — Natural Resources

SUBTITLE 5- ENVIRONMENTAL STANDING ACT

1-501. DEFINITIONS.

(A)    IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B) "PERSON" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP,

CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER LEGAL

ENTITY RESIDING IN OR DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE.

(B)    "PERSON" MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN RESIDENT OF
THE STATE OF MARYLAND, ANY CORPORATION INCORPORATED UNDER
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, OR ANY PARTNERSHIP,
ORGANIZATION, ASSOCIATION, OR LEGAL ENTITY DOING BUSINESS IN
THE STATE.

(C)    "POLITICAL SUBDIVISION" MEANS A COUNTY, THE CITY
OF BALTIMORE, A MULTI-COUNTY AGENCY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION,
SINGLE PURPOSE DISTRICT, AND SOIL CONSERVATION OR SANITARY
DISTRICT.

1-502. DECLARATION OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND INTENT.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT THE
NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE STATE OF
MARYLAND ARE IN DANGER OF IRREPARABLE HARM OCCASIONED BY
MAN'S USE AND EXPLOITATION OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
IT FURTHER FINDS THAT IMPROPER USE AND EXPLOITATION
CONSTITUTE AN INVASION OF THE RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN