2023 Maryland Statutes › Natural Resources › Title 8 - Waters › Subtitle 4 - Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board and Related Program › Section 8-403 - Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board

(a)    (1)    (i)    There is a Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board.
(ii)    The Board consists of the Secretaries of Natural Resources, Agriculture, the Environment, and Planning, and a member of the Garrett County Commissioners, who shall be a voting member of the Board only on matters pertaining to the wild portion of the Youghiogheny River.
(2)    The members of the Board shall select the chairperson.
(3)    A member of the Board:
(i)    May not receive any compensation for the member’s services; but
(ii)    Shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses and disbursements made in order to attend any meeting or perform any other official duty.
(b)    In addition to the duties set forth elsewhere in this subtitle, the Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board shall:
(1)    Review:
(i)    Any inventory, study, plan, and regulation that is prepared under this subtitle; and
(ii)    The recommendations on the inventory, study, plan, and regulation of the Secretary, any local governing body, or any local advisory board;
(2)    Meet regularly; and
(3)    Appoint, with the advice and consent of the appropriate local governing body, a local scenic and wild river advisory board for each river that is included in the Scenic and Wild Rivers Program.
(c)    (1)    Each local scenic and wild river advisory board consists of at least seven members, except for the Youghiogheny local Scenic and Wild River Advisory Board that consists of at least eight members.
(2)    Each member of a local scenic and wild river advisory board shall reside in the county through which the scenic and wild river flows.
(3)    The Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board shall select the members of each local advisory board as follows:
(i)    At least two members shall own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river, except for the Youghiogheny River where at least three members shall own land contiguous to that portion of the river designated by § 8–408(a) of this subtitle as a wild river;
(ii)    At least two members who own land that is not contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
(iii)    One member shall represent the local governing body; and
(iv)    Two members from the county soil conservation district.
(d)    If a scenic or wild river flows through more than one county, the local advisory board shall consist of no more than the following members:
(1)    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
(2)    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who do not own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
(3)    Two representatives of the local governing body of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows; and
(4)    One representative of each soil conservation district through which the scenic or wild river flows.
(e)    Each local scenic and wild river advisory board shall:
(1)    Review any inventory, study, plan, and regulation that is proposed under this subtitle and is applicable to any river in its jurisdiction;
(2)    Make recommendations on the inventory, study, plan, and regulation to its local governing body and to the Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board;
(3)    Select its own chairperson; and
(4)    Adopt its own administrative regulations for the operation of the local advisory board.
(f)    (1)    Each member of a local advisory board may not:
(i)    Receive compensation for service; or
(ii)    Be reimbursed for expenses incurred in travel or for attending meetings or performing any official duty.
(2)    The Secretary shall schedule meetings for each local advisory board. However, in the event of emergencies, the chairperson of a local advisory board may schedule meetings for the local advisory board.
(g)    (1)    On completion of an approved management plan, the local governing body may establish a scenic river advisory board for each designated scenic or wild river within its jurisdiction.
(2)    Each board, as constituted by the local authority, may recommend policies, laws, and regulations in furtherance of the aims of this subtitle to the appropriate local governing body.
(3)    (i)    Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, if a scenic or wild river flows through more than one county, the scenic river advisory board may consist of an equal number of members from each county.
(ii)    If a scenic or wild river flows through Carroll County and one or more other counties, the scenic river advisory board shall consist of the following members:
1.    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
2.    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who do not own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
3.    Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, two representatives of the local governing body of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows; and
4.    One representative of an organization in the county with expertise in agriculture, such as the local farm bureau, grange, or soil conservation district.
(iii)    If a scenic or wild river flows through Frederick County and one or more other counties, the scenic river advisory board shall consist of the following members:
1.    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
2.    Two residents of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows who do not own land contiguous to the scenic or wild river;
3.    Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, two representatives of the local governing body of each county through which the scenic or wild river flows; and
4.    One representative of an organization in the county with expertise in agriculture, such as the local farm bureau, grange, or soil conservation district.
(iv)    The two representatives of the local governing body shall be nonvoting members of the scenic river advisory board.