ANDY HARRIS AND “EJ” PIPKIN TEAM UP IN ANNAPOLIS

SENATE BILL 432

By: Senators Jacobs, Pipkin, Colburn, Glassman, Harris, and Stone Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2009 Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs AN ACT concerning Environment – Sewage Sludge Utilization – Zoning and Lane Use Requirements FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Department of the Environment from issuing a sewage sludge utilization permit for a site unless the site meets all county zoning and land use requirements or ordinances; and generally relating to the use of sewage sludge.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Environment 9–233.

(A) The Department may not issue a permit to install, materially alter, or materially extend a sewage sludge composting facility or a sewage sludge storage facility until:

(1) The sewage sludge composting facility or sewage sludge storage facility meets all zoning and land use requirements of the county where the sewage sludge composting or storage facility is to be located; and

(2) In the case of a sewage sludge composting facility, the Department has a written statement that the board of county commissioners or the county council of the county where the sewage sludge composting facility is to be located does not oppose the issuance of the permit.

(B) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT ISSUE A SEWAGE SLUDGE UTILIZATION PERMIT UNLESS THE SEWAGE SLUDGE UTILIZATION SITE MEETS ALL ZONING AND LAND USE REQUIREMENTS OR ORDINANCES OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE SITE IS LOCATED. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2009.