HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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

Article - Natural Resources

SUBTITLE 3A. ACID DEPOSITION

3-3A-01.

(A)  IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B)   "ACID DEPOSITION" MEANS THE PROCESS WHEREBY ACID
FORMING CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ARE TRANSPORTED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE TO
THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH.

(C)   "ACID DEPOSITION PRECURSOR" MEANS AN AIR CONTAMINANT
THAT MAY BE TRANSFORMED TO AN ACID GAS OR PARTICLE IN THE
ATMOSPHERE.

(D)  "COMMISSION" MEANS THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION.

(E)  "DEPARTMENTS" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE.

(F)  "PARTICIPATING AGENCIES" MEANS THE COMMISSION, THE
PEOPLE'S COUNSEL OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, AND THE
DEPARTMENTS OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE,
TRANSPORTATION, AND STATE PLANNING.

3-3A-02.

(A)  THE DIRECTOR OF THE POWER PLANT SITING AND RESEARCH
PROGRAM SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION AND COORDINATION
OF THE ACTIVITIES REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)  (1) TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE PROVIDED IN THE STATE
BUDGET, THE DEPARTMENTS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES, SHALL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF:

(I)  THE SOURCES OF ACID DEPOSITION RECEIVED IN

THE STATE;

(II)  THE IMPACT OF ACID DEPOSITION ON THE

STATE;

(III)  ANY AVAILABLE EFFECTIVE METHODS TO
ALLEVIATE ANY SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE STATE; AND

(IV)  THE COSTS OF THE AVAILABLE EFFECTIVE
METHODS TO ALLEVIATE ANY SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE STATE.

(2) THE DEPARTMENTS SHALL UTILIZE THE RESULTS OF
STUDIES CONDUCTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE APPLICABLE AND