Ch. 488                                    1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(H) (1) "POLLUTION" MEANS EVERY CONTAMINATION OR OTHER
ALTERATION OF THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, OR BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, OF ANY
WATERS OF THE STATE.

(2) "POLLUTION" INCLUDES CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE, TASTE, COLOR,
TURBIDITY, OR ODOR OF THE WATERS OF THE STATE OR THE DISCHARGE OR
DEPOSIT OF ANY ORGANIC MATTER, HARMFUL ORGANISM, OR LIQUID, GASEOUS,
SOLID, RADIOACTIVE, OR OTHER SUBSTANCE INTO ANY WATERS OF THE STATE AS
WILL RENDER THE WATERS OF THE STATE HARMFUL, DETRIMENTAL, OR
INJURIOUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE, DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL,
INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, OTHER LEGITIMATE BENEFICIAL
USES, OR LIVESTOCK, WILD ANIMALS, BIRDS OR FISH OR OTHER AQUATIC LIFE.

(I) "SECRETARY" MEANS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.

(J) "WATERS OF THE STATE" INCLUDES:

(1)     BOTH SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATERS WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE SUBJECT TO ITS JURISDICTION; .

(2)     THAT PORTION OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE STATE;

(3)     THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES;

(4)     ALL PONDS, LAKES, RIVERS, STREAMS, PUBLIC DITCHES, TAX
DITCHES, AND PUBLIC DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE STATE, OTHER THAN THOSE
DESIGNED AND USED TO COLLECT, CONVEY, OR DISPOSE OF SANITARY SEWAGE;
AND

(5)     THE FLOODPLAIN OF FREE-FLOWING WATERS DETERMINED BY
THE DEPARTMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE 100-YEAR FLOOD FREQUENCY.

5-102.

(A) THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT MAY ADOPT ANY
REGULATION TO FURTHER ITS GENERAL POWERS OF REGULATIONS UNDER THIS
TITLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OVER WATER RESOURCES OF THE STATE, AND FOR
PROPER CONSERVATION FOR PUBLIC USE, ALLOCATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF
UNDERGROUND WATERS OF THE STATE.

(B) An appropriation or use permit under [§ 8-802] § 5-502 of this title may not
be refused for domestic use of a well on a farm.

SUBTITLE 2. ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORITY OF UNIT PERTAINING TO WATER
AND WATER RESOURCES - IN GENERAL.

5-201.

(a) There is a Water Resources MANAGEMENT Administration in the
Department.

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