WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 306

3-304.

In cooperation with the Public Service Commission and the
Secretary of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT, the
Secretary shall implement a long-range environmental evaluation
of power plant building sites projected for at least 10 years. To
facilitate providing adequate electric power on reasonable
schedules at reasonable costs with the least possible
depreciation of the quality of Maryland's environment, the
following responsibilities and procedures are set forth:

(1)  The Public Service Commission shall assemble and
evaluate annually the long-range plans of Maryland's public
electric companies regarding generating needs and means for
meeting those needs. Beginning January 1, 1972, the Chairman of
the Public Service Commission shall forward annually to the
Secretary a ten-year plan of possible and proposed sites,
including associated transmission routes, for the construction of
new electric power plants within the State and extensions of
existing plants.

(2)  Upon receipt of a ten-year plan from the Public
Service Commission, the Secretary with the advice of the
Secretary of [Health and Mental Hygiene] THE ENVIRONMENT and in
accordance with paragraph (1) of this section and Article 78, §
54B(b) of the Code, shall prepare and submit, within 180 days a
preliminary environmental statement on each possible and proposed
site, including associated transmission routes. The statement, on
the basis of the environmental research program, shall include
but not be limited to the following considerations:

(i) The environmental impact at the proposed
site;

(ii) Any adverse environmental effects which
cannot be avoided if the proposed site is accepted;

(iii) Possible alternatives to the proposed
site;

(iv) Any irreversible and irretrievable
commitments of resources which would be involved at the proposed
site if it is approved;

(v) Where appropriate, a discussion of problems
and objections raised by other State and federal agencies and
local entities;

(vi) A plan for monitoring environmental
effects of the proposed action and provision for remedial actions
if the monitoring reveals unanticipated environmental effects of
significant adverse consequences; and

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