Section 5-910 - Mitigation banking. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-910. Mitigation banking.
 

(a)  Legislative findings.- The General Assembly declares that: 

(1) In the application review process, one of the primary mitigation issues is locating the most beneficial area to conduct wetland restoration, creation, or enhancement; 

(2) Where unavoidable losses or degradations occur as a result of permitted human activity, there exists a sequential process for mitigation site location which includes consideration of on-site alternatives; 

(3) Mitigation banking, which allows a person to restore, enhance, or create a functional wetland ecosystem, may offer a sound mitigation alternative and may provide an opportunity to contribute to the goal of no net loss in wetlands acreage and function; and 

(4) Mitigation banking may not alter the regulatory requirements of § 5-907 of this subtitle. 

(b)  Regulations - Development; contents.- The Department shall develop standards and adopt regulations for the creation of wetland mitigation banks, including: 

(1) The types and locations of wetlands to be restored, created, or enhanced and the types and locations of wetlands to be filled for which a person may obtain credit through a mitigation bank; 

(2) The types and number of credits available through the bank to offset losses by acreage and by function of a wetland to be filled; 

(3) The method of wetland construction, supervision, and maintenance to be required of a bank owner seeking to obtain credit for use of the bank; 

(4) Maintenance requirements; 

(5) Monitoring requirements; 

(6) Bonding requirements, to include assurance of wetland function; 

(7) Reporting requirements to the Department; 

(8) Consistency with developed watershed plans, forest conservation, local growth management policies, and local comprehensive plans; 

(9) Requirements for the protection in perpetuity of mitigation banks, through methods that include easements, covenants, or similar mechanisms, that shall be in place at the time credits are withdrawn; 

(10) Compensation ratios for mitigation through mitigation banks that shall equal or exceed 1.5 to 1; and 

(11) Public notice and comment requirements, including opportunity for public review and comment on any specific wetland bank that is greater than 5 acres in size. 

(c)  Regulations - Compliance with other provisions; examinations; preferences.- The standards and regulations adopted by the Department under this section shall ensure that: 

(1) The provisions of § 5-907 of this subtitle, including the avoidance, alternative analysis, and minimization of disturbance of nontidal wetlands, are fully adhered to; 

(2) The goals of § 5-902 of this subtitle to attain no net overall loss in nontidal wetland acreage and function and to strive for a net resource gain are achieved; 

(3) On-site mitigation is examined before conducting mitigation off site; and 

(4) Mitigation through wetland banking should be accomplished in and with preference to the same watershed and county as the wetland for which mitigation is required. 

(d)  Construction of section; cooperation with private sector; use of State lands.-  

(1) This section may not be construed to require the Department to: 

(i) Establish or fund State mitigation banks; 

(ii) Fund the establishment of mitigation banking by the private sector; or 

(iii) Use State lands for mitigation banking. 

(2) The Department may establish mitigation banking through and with the cooperation of the private sector and may use State lands for mitigation banking sites. 
 

[1993, ch. 347, § 2; 1995, ch. 488, §§ 1, 16; 1997, ch. 14, § 1.]