WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 536

(G) THE AUTHORITY SHALL FILE AN ANNUAL REPORT BY JANUARY 1
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE FORM REQUIRED IN § 2-1312 OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE.------------------------------------------------

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1989. It shall remain effective for a period
of three years and, at the end of June 30, 1992, and with no
further action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall
be abrogated and of no further force and effect.

SECTION 4. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1989.

Approved May 19, 1989.

CHAPTER 536

(Senate Bill 481)

AN ACT concerning

Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act

FOR the purpose of establishing a statewide program for the
conservation, enhancement, and regulation of nontidal
wetlands in this State; requiring the Department of Natural
Resources to assist local governments in undertaking
nontidal wetland management planning; requiring the
Department to prepare and adopt certain guidance maps for
nontidal wetlands; authorizing the Department to delegate
certain authority to a county under certain circumstances;
requiring certain agricultural and forestry activities to
meet certain requirements; requiring a person to obtain a
permit for certain regulated activities in a nontidal
wetland; providing certain exemptions; providing for certain
application procedures; requiring the Department, by a
certain date, to designate by regulation nontidal wetlands
for which a certain buffer is to be expanded; setting forth

certain legislative intent for the establishment of

establishing certain timelines for acting on permit
applications; establishing certain standards for issuance of
a permit; providing for certain mitigation for nontidal
wetland losses; establishing a Nontidal Wetland Compensation
Fund to be used for certain purposes; providing for certain
enforcement provisions; requiring the Department, in
consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to
develop a certain joint nontidal wetlands permit application
for certain purposes; applying certain standards for a

- 3301 -