HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                 2633

CHAPTER 764

(House Bill 854)

AN ACT concerning

Water Resources - Public Policy

FOR the purpose of establishing a policy of the State that
wastes and wastewaters be confined and contained to
prevent contamination of State waters. will provide and
promote, through innovative and alternative methods of
waste and wastewater treatment, prevention, abatement,
and control of new or existing water pollution.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources
Section 8-801(a) and 8-1402
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1979 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

8-801.

(a) In order to conserve, protect, and use water
resources of the state in accordance with the best interests
of the people of Maryland, it is the policy of the state to
control, so far as feasible, appropriation or use of surface
and underground waters of the state AND TO REQUIRE THAT
WASTES AND WASTEWATERS BE CONFINED AND CONTAINED TO PREVENT
THE CONTAMINATION OF STATE WATERS. Also, it is state policy
to promote public safety and welfare, and control and

supervise so far as is feasible, construction,

reconstruction, and repair of dams, reservoirs, and other
waterworks in any waters of the state.

8-1402.

Because the quality of the waters of this State is
vital to the public and private interests of its citizens
and because pollution constitutes a menace to public health
and welfare, creates public nuisances, is harmful to
wildlife, fish and aquatic life, and impairs domestic,
agricultural, industrial, recreational, and other legitimate
beneficial uses of water, and the problem of water pollution
in this State is closely related to the problem of water
pollution in adjoining states, it is State public policy to
improve, conserve, and manage the quality of the waters of
the State and protect, maintain, and improve the quality of
water for public supplies, propagation of wildlife, fish and