S.B. 510                                                  VETOES

(5) Prior to the payment of any funds under the provisions of this Act for the
purposes set forth in Section 1(3) above, the Mayor and City Council of Brunswick shall
provide and expend a matching fund. No part of an applicant's matching fund may be
provided, either directly or indirectly, from funds of the State, whether appropriated or
unappropriated. No part of the fund may consist of real property[,] OR in kind
contributions[, or]. THE FUND MAY CONSIST OF funds expended prior to the effective
date of this Act. In case of any dispute as to the amount of the matching fund or what
money or assets may qualify as matching funds, the Board of Public Works shall
determine the matter and the Board's decision is final. The Mayor and City Council of
Brunswick have until June 1, 1996, to present evidence satisfactory to, the Board of Public
Works that a matching fund will be provided. If satisfactory evidence is presented, the
Board shall certify this fact and the amount of the matching fund to the State Treasurer,
and the proceeds of the loan equal to the amount of the matching fund shall be expended
for the purposes provided in this Act. Any amount of the loan in excess of the amount of
the matching fund certified by the Board of Public Works shall be canceled and be of no
further effect.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1995.

May 24, 1995

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

President of the Senate

State House

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed Senate Bill 510.

The bill authorizes the issuance of special power dredging oyster permits to holders of
oyster harvesting licenses. License holders would be required to turn in their harvesting
license while they were operating with the special dredge permit. They would also be
restricted to a lower daily catch limit under the power dredge license than allowed under
their harvesting license. The area where the special permits may be used is limited to the
waters contiguous to Somerset County. Power dredging is otherwise prohibited in this and
other oyster harvesting areas.

Power dredging is an efficient method of oyster harvesting which has been banned
throughout most of the rest of the Chesapeake Bay (except for limited use by skipjacks).
It is true that the bill serves to reinstate power dredging provisions that were in place
from 1983 to 1993. However, during that time, oyster populations continued to decline
and the Department of Natural Resources responded with the formation of the Oyster
Recovery Plan. The bill is inconsistent with the goals and spirit of the Oyster Recovery
Plan.

At a time when oyster harvests have been significantly reduced as a result of oyster
parasites, it is not appropriate to allow a more efficient harvesting technique. Increased

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