PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 488

(e) [The provisions of this section do not restrict the jurisdiction of the
Department of the Environment.

(f)] Agricultural drainage systems, for the purpose of lowering the level of water in
the soil, with a total drainage area of 2,500 acres or less are exempt from the requirement
of obtaining a permit from the Department, except that drainage systems financed or
managed by a public drainage association are exempt from this requirement only if plans
for construction, operation, and maintenance have been approved by the Secretary of
Agriculture under § 8-603 of the Agriculture Article.

[(g)](F) The periodic maintenance of agricultural drainage systems constructed
under the auspices of a public drainage or watershed association is exempt from the
requirement of obtaining a permit from the Department if:

(1)     The maintenance is performed in accordance with a permit from the
Department for the original construction or reconstruction of the drainage system; or

(2)     The maintenance is performed in accordance with an operation and
maintenance plan approved by the local soil conservation district and the Secretary of
Agriculture under § 8-603 of the Agriculture Article.

[(h)](G) The removal or demolition of residential structures is exempt from any
permit requirement of this section.

5-512.

(A)    The provisions of this subtitle do not amend or repeal:

(1)     [any] ANY law relating to the Public Service Commission [and
Department of the Environment, relating] OR to water and water structures [,]; or

(2)     [any] ANY act or parts of acts consistent with the provisions of this
subtitle.

(B)     The provisions of this subtitle do not impair any riparian or other vested right,
nor amend, repeal, limit, impair, or alter any right, power, or privilege granted by the
General Assembly to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to appropriate or use any
river, stream, or water in the state to augment and improve the municipal water supply of
Baltimore City.

5-601.

(a)     In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)     "Construction" means any clearing, grading, excavation, building, or the
commencement of any of these activities.

(c)     "Department" means the Department of [Natural Resources] THE
ENVIRONMENT.

(d)     "Exploratory activities" means any activity involving the drilling of test wells
for geothermal resources.

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