HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               2271

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 54A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume)

BY adding to

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 54AB

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 43 - Health

Section 689C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1980 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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 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, this will include the Department of State Planning
who will be responsible for forwarding the application to
appropriate State agencies in 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 amplication
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 and recommendations from interested State
agencies and shall permit representatives of those agencies
to sit during hearing of all parties. The Commission shall