Ch. 488                                    1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

16-101.

(a)     In this title the following words have the meaning indicated.

(b)     "Board" means the Board of Public Works.

(c)     "County" includes Baltimore City unless otherwise indicated.

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

(e)     "Dredging" means the removal or displacement by any means of soil, sand,
gravel, shells, or other material, whether or not of intrinsic value, from any State or
private wetlands.

(f)      (1) "Filling" means:

(i) The displacement of navigable water by the depositing into State
or private wetlands of soil, sand, gravel, shells, or other materials; or

(ii) The artificial alteration of navigable water levels by any physical
structure, drainage ditch, or otherwise.

(2)     "Filling" includes storm drain projects which flow directly into tidal
waters of the State.

(3)     "Filling" does not include:

(i) Drainage of agricultural land;

(ii) In-place replacement or repair of shore erosion control structures
using substantially similar materials and construction design; or

(iii) Planting of wetlands vegetation when no grading or fill in State or
private wetlands is necessary.

(g)     "Landward boundary of wetlands" means the common boundary between
wetlands, as defined in this section, and lands not included within the definitions of
wetlands appearing in this section.

(h) (1) "Pier" means any pier, wharf, dock, walkway, bulkhead, breakwater,
piles, or other similar structure.

(2) "Pier" does not include any structure on pilings or stilts that was
originally constructed beyond the landward boundaries of State or private wetlands.

(i) "Person" means any natural person, partnership, joint-stock company,
unincorporated association or society, the State, any unit of the State, a political
subdivision, or other corporation of any type.

(j) (1) "Private wetlands" means any land not considered "State wetland"
bordering on or lying beneath tidal waters, which is subject to regular or periodic tidal
action and supports aquatic growth.

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