3744

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 793

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act may not
be construed to repeal any law relating to immunity from personal
liability of the directors or officers of a public drainage
association.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984.

Approved May 29, 1984.

CHAPTER 794

(Senate Bill 664)

AN ACT concerning

Environmental Protection - Chesapeake Bay - Critical Areas

FOR the purpose of preserving, protecting, and improving the
water quality, and natural habitats, and scenic character
of the Chesapeake Bay and certain tributaries and streams by
designating certain lands and waters as critical areas that
require especially sensitive consideration with regard to
development; making certain legislative findings; defining
certain terms; creating a 15-member Chesapeake Bay Critical
Area Commission with certain membership to establish certain
criteria to be implemented by certain local governments
regarding development in critical areas; providing for the
appointment and terms of Commission members; providing for
staff support and the appointment of a chairman and
executive director; placing the Commission in the Department
of Natural Resources for organizational purposes only;
authorizing the Commission to adopt certain rules and
regulations and conduct hearings; designating certain areas
of lands and waters to be included in the Chesapeake Bay
Critical Area, subject to exclusion of certain types of land
after certain findings are made; requiring that the
Commission adopt criteria by a certain date to be used in
approving a critical area protection program that may be
submitted by a local jurisdiction; requiring that every part
of the Chesapeake Bay critical area be subject to an
approved critical area protection program by a certain date;
providing that the criteria of the Commission shall
designate a certain buffer area and specifying certain
activities that may or may not be permitted; providing that
the criteria of the Commission contain certain minimum
requirements but must allow local jurisdictions to propose
existing developed areas that would be exempt from some or
all of the provisions of its critical are protection
program; establishing certain procedures and standards for
the approval by the Commission of a proposed critical area