HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2187

CHAPTER 324

(House Bill 576)

AN ACT concerning

Shore Erosion Control - Nonstructural Measures

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Department of Natural
Resources to utilize certain appropriated funds for certain
grants to landowners for nonstructural shore erosion
control; establishing a certain percentage of State
assistance for these grants; authorizing the Department to
impose certain conditions on these grants; providing that
appropriations and expenditures of funds for these purposes
are not subject to certain existing provisions of law; and
generally relating to the establishment of a grant
assistance program for nonstructural shore erosion control.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 8-1004.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

8-1004.1.

(A)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE,
TO THE EXTENT THAT A PROJECT CONSISTS OF NONSTRUCTURAL SHORE
EROSION CONTROL MEASURES, THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF
THE BENEFITED PROPERTY TO INITIALLY INCUR SOME OR ALL OF THE
PROJECT COSTS FOR NONSTRUCTURAL MEASURES, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
IN THE FORM OF REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE OWNER.

(B)  TO BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ANY REIMBURSEMENTS UNDER THIS
SECTION, THE OWNER OF THE BENEFITED PROPERTY SHALL HAVE ENTERED
INTO A PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE INCURRING ANY
COSTS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTIMATE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROJECT
COSTS FOR NONSTRUCTURAL MEASURES AND SHALL ESTABLISH IN THE
AGREEMENT AS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE WHICH WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT 50 PERCENT OF THAT ESTIMATE. THE
DEPARTMENT MAY INCLUDE IN THE PROJECT AGREEMENT CONDITIONS UNDER
WHICH THE OWNER MAY BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT,
INCLUDING CONDITIONING THE REIMBURSEMENT UPON THE SUCCESSFUL
ESTABLISHMENT OF ANY VEGETATIVE ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT.