PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 501

CHAPTER 501
(House Bill 848)

AN ACT concerning

Operation of Boats - Noise Levels - All State Waters

FOR the purpose of establishing noise level requirements for the operation of vessels on
all waters of the State by eliminating the provisions limiting statutory noise levels
only to the nontidal waters of the State; eliminating a certain noise level as
measured in a certain manner; making the maximum noise level limit the same
regardless of the date certain engines are manufactured; requiring that noise levels
on all waters of the State be measured in a certain manner; and generally relating to
statutory noise levels on the waters of the State.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Natural Resources
Section 8-725.4
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1990 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

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

Article - Natural Resources

8-725.4.

(a)     The provisions of this section do not apply to persons who regularly catch or
harvest seafood for sale while actually engaged in the catching or harvesting of the
seafood.

(b)     (1) [Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a person may not
operate a vessel on the tidal waters of the State so as to exceed a noise level of 75dB(a),
measured from a point on shore using generally accepted testing procedures imposed by
regulations adopted by the Department based on the Marine Environment Sound Level
Measurement Procedure, SAE J 1970.

(2) (i)] Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a person may
not operate a vessel on the [nontidal] waters of the State so as to exceed the following
noise levels;

[1.] (I) For engines manufactured before January 1, 1993, a noise
level of 90dB(a); or.

[2.] (II) For engines manufactured on or after January 1, 1993, a
noise level of 88dB(a).

- 2931 -