HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(13)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Interstate
Commission of the Potomac River Basin;

(14)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Susquehanna
River Basin Commission;

(15)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission;

(16)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Potomac

River Fisheries Commission;

(17)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Interstate
Oil and Gas Compact Commission;

(18)  The Maryland Membership Unit of the Interstate
Mining Commission; [and]

(19)  The Hazardous Waste Facilities Siting Board[.];
AND

(20)  THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA COMMISSION.
SUBTITLE 18. CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA PROTECTION PROGRAM.

8-1801.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:

(1)  THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES ARE
NATURAL RESOURCES OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO THE STATE AND THE
NATION;

(2)  THE SHORELINE AND ADJACENT LANDS CONSTITUTE A
VALUABLE, FRAGILE, AND SENSITIVE PART OF THIS ESTUARINE SYSTEM,
WHERE HUMAN ACTIVITY CAN HAVE A PARTICULARLY IMMEDIATE AND
ADVERSE IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY , AND NATURAL HABITATS, AND
SCENIC QUALITIES;

(3)  THE CAPACITY OF THESE SHORELINE AND ADJACENT
LANDS TO WITHSTAND THE CONTINUING DEMANDS UPON THEM, WITHOUT
FURTHER DEGRADATION TO WATER QUALITY , AND NATURAL HABITATS , AND
SCENIC QUALITIES, IS LIMITED;

(4)  NATIONAL STUDIES HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THE QUALITY
AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES HAVE DECLINED DUE TO THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF HUMAN
ACTIVITY THAT HAVE CAUSED INCREASED LEVELS OF POLLUTANTS,
NUTRIENTS, AND TOXICS IN THE BAY SYSTEM AND DECLINES IN MORE
PROTECTIVE LAND USES SUCH AS FORESTLAND AND AGRICULTURAL LAND IN
THE BAY REGION;

(5)  THOSE PORTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES WITHIN MARYLAND ARE PARTICULARLY STRESSED BY THE
CONTINUING POPULATION GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY