Maryland Environment Section 2-403

      (a)      (1)      The Department, by regulation, shall require and collect a fee for each permit issued under § 2-401 of this subtitle.

            (2)      In adopting the regulations under this section, the Department shall consult with industry to determine that the permit fee is reasonable and directly related to the actual cost of the permitting and regulatory activity, and does not exceed a certain dollar amount.

      (b)      (1)      The amount of the fees shall cover:

                  (i)      The reasonable cost of reviewing and acting on the application for the permits;

                  (ii)      The reasonable costs incurred in implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of the permits, exclusive of any court costs or other costs associated with any enforcement actions; and

                  (iii)      The costs identified in § 502(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

            (2)      Fees assessed and collected under this section shall be used exclusively for the development and administration of the permit program under this subtitle.

      (c)      (1)      The fee established under this section may not exceed:

                  (i)      For calendar year 1993, $15 per ton of regulated emissions;

                  (ii)      For calendar year 1994, $18 per ton of regulated emissions;

                  (iii)      For calendar year 1995, $20 per ton of regulated emissions; and

                  (iv)      For calendar year 1996 and each calendar year thereafter, $25 per ton of regulated emissions.

            (2)      The fee established under this section may not exceed, for any single source, $200,000.

            (3)      For purposes of this section, starting in calendar year 1997, the dollar amounts used in this section may be adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index, as authorized by 40 CFR Part 70 (Operating Permit Program).