Ch. 306                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND                                       

State and the counties through which they run. As a result of
poorly treated effluent discharged from sewage disposal plants
and erosion and silt deposited in the rivers from construction
and development on land in the Watershed, the Patuxent River and
Severn River are being polluted and despoiled to a degree that
fish, marine life, and recreational use of the rivers are being
adversely affected and curtailed.

[8-1203] 4-303.

Every person who disposes of or treats . sewage in the
Watershed shall anticipate the need for advanced waste treatment
and removal . of nutrients, in providing land and planning
construction of sewage treatment plants, so that effluent from
sewage treatment plants is sufficiently, treated to meet the
effluent water quality standard for bacteriological values,
dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature conditions defined by the
Secretary of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT. Every
future sewage treatment plant located within the Watershed shall
be constructed to conform with these standards.

[8-1204] 4-304.

(a)  Any owner or operator of a sewage disposal plant which
does not meet the prescribed water quality standards, within 180
days' notice of failure to meet these standards, shall submit an
improved sewage disposal plan to the Department of [Health and
Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT for approval. The Department, of
[Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT, within ten days,
shall refer copies of the plan to the appropriate county
governing unit of the county in which the plant is located, the
Department of Natural Resources and, in Montgomery and Prince
George's counties, to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission,
for review and recommendation. They have 30 days to respond to
the Department of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT.

(b)  The sewage plan shall indicate necessary improvements
required to insure that purity of the effluent meets required
standards, and shall include a time schedule to construct
necessary improvements within three years.

(c)  If the applicant or any unit requests, the Department
of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT shall hold a
hearing on the plan after at least ten days' notice to the
applicant and units to which the referral was made. The
Department of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT shall
approve the plan within 90 days after the owner or operator
submits the plan. The Department of [Health and Mental Hygiene]
THE ENVIRONMENT may make any amendment or modification it
determines, in accordance with the prescribed standards.

- 1398 -