WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                    Ch. 585

WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that the Department
of Natural Resources has authority under §§ 8-703 and 8-704 of
the Natural Resources Article to adopt and enforce regulations
for those matters which are the subject of this Act; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to clarify
and reaffirm this authority of the Department of Natural
Resources; now, therefore,

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

Article - Natural Resources

8-725.2.

(A)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1)  DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE
USE OF VESSELS ON THE SEVERN RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT UNDER TITLE 10
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; AND

(2)  IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN NO
LATER THAN APRIL 15, 1990.

(B)  THE COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE USE OF
VESSELS ON THE SEVERN RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT NOT NECESSARILY BE LIMITED TO:

(1)  AREAS DESIGNATED FOR SPECIFIED USES;

(2)  NOISE LEVEL LIMITS OF VESSELS;

(3)  MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS OF VESSELS; AND

(4)  OTHER LIMITS THAT ADDRESS WATER SURFACE CAPACITY
AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF VESSELS SO AS TO MAXIMIZE THE
RECREATIONAL AND AESTHETIC VALUES OF THE SEVERN RIVER AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES, CONSISTENT WITH SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES; AND

(5)  A STUDY OF SEAPLANE ACTIVITY ON THE SEVERN RIVER
AND ITS TRIBUTARY.                                                            

(C)  THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO CHANGE THE
AUTHORITY PREVIOUSLY GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT
REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS SECTION.

8-725.3.

(A) A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE ANY VESSEL ON THE SEVERN RIVER
FROM APRIL 15 TO OCTOBER 15 OF ANY YEAR IN EXCESS OF 25 KNOTS 40

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