Ch. 13

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

permitting processes for those sites,
coordination site review and development;

5. identify, obtain, and expedite federal
funding for development and construction
of those sites; and

6. designate a coordinating officer to act as
the State liaison on dredge material
placement issues with federal State and
local government.

Further, it is the intent of the General
Assembly that:

1. open-water placement options for clean
dredge material be available provided that
such options be accomplished in an
environmentally sound manner;

2. to the extent practical, the State should
utilize other, less costly dredged material
options in lieu of proceeding with Phase II
of Poplar Island; and

3. if the deadlines for development of the
strategic plan and the identification of sites
in the upper Chesapeake Bay as stated
above are not met by January I, 1997, the
Maryland Department of Transportation
shall fund through existing resources an
independent environmental impact
assessment of the area known as Deep
Trough as a potential site for the deposit of
dredged materials. The scientific analysis is
to be performed by an independent
researcher and will include:

•   an analysis of the cost of using the Deep
Trough site for depositing dredged
materials;

•   environmental impact assessments of the
effects of placing non-contaminated
materials in the Deep Trough without
actual placement of any material in the
Deep Trough;

•   long-term and short-term environmental

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