2013 Maryland Code
ENVIRONMENT
§ 9-331 - Records and reports

§9-331.

By rule, regulation, order, permit, or otherwise, the Department may require the owner or operator of any source of a discharge of pollutants or of any source that is an industrial user of a publicly owned treatment works:

(1) To keep records;

(2) To make reports;

(3) To install, calibrate, use, and maintain monitoring equipment or methods, including, where appropriate, biological monitoring methods;

(4) To sample discharges in accordance with the methods, at the locations, at the intervals, and in the manner the Department requires; and

(5) To provide to the Department any information that the Department reasonably requires about:

(i) Discharge of pollutants into the waters of this State; or

(ii) Introduction of pollutants into publicly owned treatment works.

§ 9-331 - 1. Reporting and public notification of sanitary sewer overflows

(a) Report to Department. --

(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 by telephone 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 the telephone 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) Procedures for public notification. -- The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 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 sewage overflow.

(c) Public health determinations. --

(1) The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 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) Regulations. -- The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section.