Opinion ID: 3184650
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Incorporation By Reference And Deference

Text: To be sure, the Permits rely heavily on incorporation by reference. But such incorporation by reference, even of important documents, does not contravene public participation requirements because the Manual and Guidance are readily accessible to the public. Cf. Proposed Action on Regulations, 35:25 Md. Reg. 2193 (Dec. 5, 2008) (“Pursuant to State Government Article § 7-207, Annotated Code of Maryland, the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual . . . has been declared a document generally available to the public and appropriate for incorporation by reference. For this reason, it 99 The six general criteria were: (1) conducting public education and outreach on stormwater impacts; (2) engaging public participation in the development of stormwater management programs; (3) detecting and eliminating illicit discharges to the MS4; (4) reducing pollution to the MS4 from construction activities disturbing one acre or more; (5) minimizing water quality impacts from development and redevelopment activities that disturb one acre or more; and (6) preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal activities. 90 will not be printed in the Maryland Register or [COMAR].”).100 Additionally, including the best management practices in the Permits would significantly lengthen the document, which would obfuscate other requirements in the Permit. The Manual has also been part of Maryland regulatory law for two decades. It is so entrenched in the permitting process that we see no reason to detail the content of the Manual in the Permits.