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ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor
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Ch. 232
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Section 5-5A-01 through 5-5A-08, inclusive, and the subtitle "Subtitle 5A.
Ballast Water Management"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1996 Replacement Volume and 2004 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article - Environment
[Subtitle 5A. Ballast Water Management.]
[5-5A-01.
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) "Ballast water" means any water and matter taken on board a vessel to
control or maintain trim, draft, stability, or stresses of the vessel, without regard to
the manner in which it is carried.
(c) "Federal guidelines" means the provisions of 33 C.F.R. Part 151, Subpart
D, "Ballast Water Management for Control of Nonindigenous Species".
(d) "State guidelines" means procedures for ballast water management that
are consistent with federal guidelines.
(e) "Vessel" means a self-propelled ship in commerce of three hundred gross
tons or more.]
[5-5A-02.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) The waters of the State are a precious, irreplaceable resource
essential to the environment, commerce, and recreation of citizens and tourists of the
State;
(2) Nonindigenous aquatic species introduced into waters of the United
States from ballast water have caused tremendous environmental and ecological
damage, displacing native species, degrading water quality, and interfering with
commerce, including the zebra mussel brought into the Great Lakes and the upper
Susquehanna River;
(3) Ballast water practices of commercial shipping vessels may cause
irreversible damage to waters of the State; and
(4) Protective measures against the introduction of nonindigenous
aquatic species from ballast water are necessary to minimize exposure of the waters
of the State to unwanted contamination and damage caused by these species.]
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- 1243 -
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