reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-331.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part IV - Discharge Permits|Section 9-331.1 - Reporting and Public Notification of Sanitary Sewer Overflows

    (a)    (1)    The owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer system, or wastewater treatment plant shall report to the Department any sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass that results in the direct or potential discharge of raw or diluted sewage into the surface waters or groundwaters of the State.        (2)    The report shall be made as soon as practicable but no later than 24 hours after the time that the operator or owner became aware of the event.        (3)    Within 5 calendar days after notification of the event, the owner or operator shall provide the Department with a written report regarding the incident that includes any information required by the Department.    (b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Health, the local health departments, and local environmental health directors, shall develop procedures for requiring the owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer system, or wastewater treatment plant to provide public notification of a sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass.        (2)    The procedures developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:            (i)    Require that the notification be posted:                1.    In Spanish and English at the location of the sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass;                2.    On the website of the Department, the Maryland Department of Health, and the appropriate local health department; and                3.    On any social media website on which the appropriate local health department regularly posts information; and            (ii)    Require notification within a reasonable time to:                1.    Appropriate downstream jurisdictions;                2.    Appropriate county governments;                3.    State parks impacted by the sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass;                4.    The Department of Natural Resources; and                5.    Any other local, State, or federal land manager impacted by the sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass.    (c)    (1)    The Maryland Department of Health and the local health departments shall make all decisions and determinations as to public health issues resulting from sewer overflows or treatment bypasses.        (2)    The owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer system, or wastewater treatment plant is not responsible for making public health determinations regarding sewer overflow or treatment plant bypasses.    (d)    The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-332 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part IV - Discharge Permits|Section 9-332 - Publicly Owned Treatment Works

    (a)    A person may not introduce any pollutant, either directly or indirectly, into a publicly owned treatment works, or into any conveyance leading to a publicly owned treatment works, in violation of any applicable pretreatment requirements including federal pretreatment standards, State requirements, local ordinances, or any pretreatment agreement.    (b)    The Secretary may delegate to owners of publicly owned treatment works the authority to apply and enforce State pretreatment requirements against industrial users.    (c)    The Secretary may determine which publicly owned treatment works are or may be adversely impacted by industrial users and may require the owners of those publicly owned treatment works to develop and maintain programs which meet State pretreatment requirements.    (d)    This section shall not be construed to limit any other provision of law imposing any restriction or prohibition relating to the discharge or disposal of pollutants or controlled hazardous wastes.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-334 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-334 - Complaint

    (a)    The Department shall issue a written complaint if the Department has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to whom the complaint is directed has violated:        (1)    This subtitle;        (2)    Any rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle; or        (3)    Any order or permit issued under this subtitle.    (b)    A complaint issued under this section shall:        (1)    Specify the provision that allegedly has been violated; and        (2)    State the alleged facts that constitute the violation.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-335 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-335 - Issuance of Notice or Order

    (a)    After or concurrently with service of a complaint under this subtitle, the Department may:        (1)    Issue an order that requires the person to whom the order is directed to take corrective action within a time set in the order;        (2)    Send a written notice that requires the person to whom the notice is directed to file a written report about the alleged violation; or        (3)    Send a written notice that requires the person to whom the notice is directed:            (i)    To appear at a hearing before the Department at a time and place the Department sets to answer the charges in the complaint; or            (ii)    To file a written report and also appear at a hearing before the Department at a time and place the Department sets to answer the charges in the complaint.    (b)    Any order issued under this section is effective immediately, according to its terms, when it is served.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-336 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-336 - Service

    (a)    Any complaint, order, notice, or other instrument issued by the Department under this subtitle may be served on the person to whom it is directed:        (1)    In accordance with § 1–204 of this article; or        (2)    By publication.    (b)    If service is made by certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, the person who mails the document shall file with the Department verified proof of mailing.    (c)    Any notice that requires filing of a report, attendance at a hearing, or both shall be served at least 10 days before the earlier of:        (1)    The time set for the hearing, if any;  or        (2)    The time set for the filing of the report, if any.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-337 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-337 - Hearings

    (a)    The Department shall give notice and hold any hearing under this subtitle in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.    (b)    (1)    Within 10 days after being served with an order under § 9-335(a)(1) of this subtitle, the person served may request in writing a hearing before the Department.        (2)    If a request for a hearing is made under this subsection, the Department shall:            (i)    Hold the hearing within 10 days after receiving the request; and            (ii)    Render a decision within 10 days after the hearing.    (c)    Within 10 days after being served with a notice under § 9-335(a)(2) of this subtitle, the person served may request in writing a hearing before the Department.    (d)    The Department may make a verbatim record of the proceedings of any hearing held under this subtitle.    (e)    (1)    In connection with any hearing under this subtitle, the Department may:            (i)    Subpoena any person or evidence; and            (ii)    Order a witness to give evidence.        (2)    A subpoenaed witness shall receive the same fees and mileage reimbursement as if the hearing were part of a civil action.        (3)    If a person fails to comply with a subpoena or order issued under this subsection, on petition of the Department, a circuit court, by order, may:            (i)    Compel obedience to the Department’s order or subpoena; or            (ii)    Compel testimony or the production of evidence.        (4)    The court may punish as a contempt any failure to obey its order issued under this section.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-338 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-338 - Final Corrective Orders

    (a)    (1)    Unless the person served with an order under § 9-335(a)(1) of this subtitle makes a timely request for a hearing, the order is a final order.        (2)    If the person served with an order under § 9-335(a)(1) of this subtitle makes a timely request for a hearing, the order becomes a final corrective order when the Department renders its decision following the hearing.    (b)    (1)    If the Department issues a notice under § 9-335(a)(2) or (3) of this subtitle, the Department may not issue an order that requires corrective action by the person to whom the notice is directed until after the later of:            (i)    The time set for the hearing, if any; and            (ii)    The time set for filing of the report, if any.        (2)    After the time within which the Department may not issue a corrective order has passed, if the Department finds that a violation of this subtitle has occurred, the Department shall issue an order that requires correction of the violation within a time set in the order.        (3)    Any order issued under this subsection is a final corrective order and the person to whom the order is directed is not entitled to a hearing before the Department as a result of the order.    (c)    The Department shall:        (1)    Take action to secure compliance with any final corrective order; and        (2)    If the terms of the final corrective order are violated or if a violation is not corrected within the time set in the order, sue to require correction of the violation.    (d)    This section does not prevent the Department or the Attorney General from taking action against a violator before the expiration of the time limitations or schedules in the order.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-339 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-339 - Injunctive Relief

    (a)    The Department may bring an action for an injunction against any person who violates any provision of this subtitle or any rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued by the Department under this subtitle.    (b)    In any action for an injunction under this section, any finding of the Department after a hearing is prima facie evidence of each fact the Department determines.    (c)    On a showing that any person is violating or is about to violate this subtitle or any rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued by the Department, the court shall grant an injunction without requiring a showing of a lack of an adequate remedy at law.    (d)    If an emergency arises from imminent danger to the public health, to the public welfare, or to the environment, the Department may sue for an immediate injunction to stop any pollution or other activity that is causing the danger.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-340 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-340 - Judicial Review

    (a)    Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the Department in connection with an order or permit issued under this subtitle may take a direct judicial appeal.    (b)    The appeal shall be made as provided for judicial review of final decisions in the Administrative Procedure Act.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-341 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-341 - Actions Relating to Publicly Owned Treatment Works

    (a)    If any condition of a permit for discharges from a publicly owned treatment works is violated, the Department, by corrective order or by request for injunctive action under this subtitle, may restrict or prohibit the introduction of any pollutant into the treatment works by any source that did not use the treatment works before the time of the finding that the condition was violated.    (b)    If the Department finds that an industrial user is not in compliance with a system of user charges required under State law or federal law, or with a condition of a permit issued by the Department to the publicly owned treatment works into which the industrial user is introducing pollutants, the Department may enforce or apply the system of user charges directly against the industrial user by corrective order or by requesting injunctive action under this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-342.2 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-342.2 - Reimbursement of Costs in Conducting Environmental Health Monitoring or Testing

    (a)    A person who discharges a pollutant into the waters of the State in violation of § 9–322 or § 9–323 of this subtitle shall reimburse the Department for the reasonable costs incurred by the Department in conducting environmental health monitoring or testing, including the cost of collecting and analyzing soil samples, surface water samples, or groundwater samples for the purpose of assessing the effect on public health and the environment of the person’s discharge.    (b)    The Department may recover costs that are reimbursable under subsection (a) of this section in a civil action.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-343 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-343 - Criminal Penalties

    (a)    (1)    A person who violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by this subtitle, or who violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by a rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued under this subtitle, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:            (i)    For a first offense, a fine not exceeding $25,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both; or            (ii)    If the conviction is for a violation committed after a first conviction of the person under this subsection, a fine not exceeding $50,000 for each day of violation or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both.        (2)    In addition to any criminal penalties imposed on a person convicted under this subsection, the person may be enjoined from continuing the violation.        (3)    Each day on which a violation occurs is a separate violation under this subsection.    (b)    A person is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both if the person:        (1)    Knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this subtitle or any rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued under this subtitle; or        (2)    Falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under this subtitle or any rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued under this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-344 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part V - Enforcement|Section 9-344 - Attorney General Responsible for Cases

    (a)    The Attorney General shall take charge of, prosecute, and defend on behalf of this State every case arising under the provisions of this subtitle, including the recovery of penalties.    (b)    The provisions of this section may not limit or affect the power or authority of State’s Attorneys under § 15–102 of the Criminal Procedure Article.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-346 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part VI - Water Pollution Control Fund|Section 9-346 - Conditions of Grants, Loans, or Loan Guarantees

    (a)    To the extent not inconsistent with this subtitle, a grant, loan, or loan guarantee agreement shall contain those conditions that the Secretary requires by regulation and that the Board of Public Works requires on a specific application for financial assistance in order to achieve the goals of this subtitle and to otherwise protect the interests of the State.    (b)    (1)    A State loan extended under this subtitle:            (i)    May not exceed $500,000 in principal amount;            (ii)    Shall bear at least the same rate of interest as the most recent State general obligation bond sale preceding the date of approval by the Board of Public Works; and            (iii)    Shall be repaid within 30 years.        (2)    The aggregate principal amount of all loans to a single applicant in any calendar year may not exceed $500,000 unless the Board of Public Works determines that extraordinary circumstances exist.    (c)    A loan guarantee of the principal of or interest on any commercial loan or obligation to finance the eligible cost of a project under this subtitle may only be made if the applicant certifies that it is unable to obtain on reasonable terms sufficient credit to finance its actual needs without the guarantee and if the Board of Public Works determines that there is a reasonable assurance of repayment of the loan obligation. A loan guarantee may not exceed $500,000 to a single applicant unless the Board of Public Works determines that extraordinary circumstances exist.    (d)    The eligible cost of a project for State financial assistance under this subtitle may include the costs of reports, plans, specifications, legal and administrative services, equipment, construction, rehabilitation or improvement, and may include land, easements, and rights-of-way. However, the eligible cost of a project to control nonpoint sources of agriculturally related water pollution may not include land or interests in land.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-347 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part VI - Water Pollution Control Fund|Section 9-347 - Construction Grants or Loans; Satisfaction of State Water Qualities Standards

    (a)    Grants or loans may be awarded under this section to any State or local governmental entity responsible by law for the provision of sewerage systems in order to finance construction of those systems so as to satisfy State water quality standards and policies.    (b)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection (d), combined State and federal assistance shall not exceed 87 1/2 percent of federally eligible costs.        (2)    Combined State and federal assistance under this section shall not exceed 77 1/2 percent if the Department has determined that:            (i)    A project is eligible for federal construction grant funding before October 1, 1984; and            (ii)    The information required by the federal government or the Department has not been provided by the applicant in a timely fashion to allow approval by that date.    (c)    State grants or loans authorized under this section may only be used to finance projects for which construction grant funding under the federal Clean Water Act has been awarded.    (d)    For projects which contain innovative or alternative technology as defined by the federal Clean Water Act, State and federal assistance may not exceed 96 1/4 percent of eligible costs for that technology.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-348 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part VI - Water Pollution Control Fund|Section 9-348 - Construction Grants or Loans; Water Quality Improvement

    (a)    Grants or loans may be awarded under this section to any State or local governmental entity responsible by law for the provision of sewerage systems to finance the construction of sewerage systems needed to improve water quality whether or not the project is eligible for construction grant assistance under the federal Clean Water Act.    (b)    Projects which may receive financial assistance under this section include those providing for:        (1)    Chlorine removal;        (2)    Nitrogen removal;        (3)    Phosphorus removal when in conjunction with a nitrogen removal cost–share grant; or        (4)    Wastewater collection or treatment otherwise undertaken to correct existing special water quality needs or an extraordinary public health problem.    (c)    Grants or loans awarded under this section may be awarded for up to 100 percent of eligible costs.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-349 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 3 - Water Pollution Control|Part VI - Water Pollution Control Fund|Section 9-349 - Loans or Loan Guarantees to Industrial Users

    (a)    (1)    Loans or loan guarantees may be awarded to industrial users for projects that provide for pretreatment of pollutants that are discharged directly or indirectly into publicly owned treatment works or into any conveyance leading to a publicly owned treatment plant.        (2)    The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly administer the program established under this section with the Secretary of Commerce being primarily responsible for the assessment of the financial capability of an applicant and appropriateness of the terms and conditions of any loan assistance.    (b)    Loan assistance may be awarded to a person under this section if:        (1)    An agreement is executed by the person that:            (i)    Specifies the purpose, amount, manner of repayment, and any other condition required by the Board of Public Works;            (ii)    Obligates the person to construct, install, and operate the pretreatment project in a manner that ensures compliance with all pretreatment requirements and technical specifications, to maintain the project for its expected life span, and to bind any successor in title; and            (iii)    Shall be signed by the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce or their designees;        (2)    The applicant certifies that it is otherwise unable to obtain on reasonable terms sufficient credit to finance the pretreatment project and the Secretary of Commerce determines that there is a reasonable assurance of repayment of the loan;        (3)    The Secretary of the Environment determines that the project meets all applicable technical standards and that all cost estimates are reasonable and represent eligible costs; and        (4)    When an applicant leases the property where the pretreatment project will be constructed, the landowner consents to the terms and conditions of the agreement.    (c)    For any loan assistance exceeding $2,500, the Secretary of Commerce shall require the granting to the State of an appropriate security interest in any equipment, structures, or similar items purchased with State money.    (d)    In accordance with § 9–345 of this subtitle, the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce jointly shall adopt rules and regulations to implement this section.