2013 Maryland Code
NATURAL RESOURCES
§ 5-1610 - Forest Conservation Fund; local forest conservation fund

§5-1610.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Fund” means the Forest Conservation Fund.

(3) “Priority funding area” has the meaning stated in § 5-7B-02 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(b) There is a Forest Conservation Fund in the Department.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, if any person subject to this subtitle demonstrates to the satisfaction of the appropriate State or local authority that the requirements for reforestation or afforestation on-site or off-site cannot be reasonably accomplished, the person shall contribute money to the Fund:

(1) On or before September 30, 2014:

(i) For a project inside a priority funding area, at a rate of 30 cents per square foot of the area of required planting; and

(ii) For a project outside a priority funding area, at a rate of 36 cents per square foot of the area of required planting; and

(2) After September 30, 2014:

(i) For a project inside a priority funding area, at a rate adjusted for inflation as determined by the Department annually by regulation; and

(ii) For a project outside a priority funding area, at a rate that is 20% higher than the rate set under item (2)(i) of this subsection.

(d) Money collected by the State or a local authority under § 5-1608(c) or § 5-1612 of this subtitle for noncompliance with this subtitle or regulations adopted under this subtitle or for noncompliance with a forest conservation plan or the associated 2-year management agreement shall be deposited in the Fund.

(e) (1) The Department shall accomplish the reforestation or afforestation for which the money is deposited within 2 years or 3 growing seasons, as appropriate, after receipt of the money.

(2) Money deposited in the Fund under subsection (c) of this section shall remain in the Fund for a period of 2 years or 3 growing seasons, and at the end of that time period, any portion that has not been used to meet the afforestation or reforestation requirements shall be returned to the person who provided the money to be used for documented tree planting in the same county or watershed beyond that required by this subtitle or other applicable statutes.

(f) (1) (i) Money deposited in the Fund under subsection (c) of this section may only be spent on reforestation and afforestation, including site identification, acquisition, and preparation, maintenance of existing forests, and achieving urban canopy goals, and may not revert to the General Fund of the State.

(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.

(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph, the reforestation or afforestation requirement under this subsection shall occur in the county and watershed in which the project is located.

(ii) If the reforestation or afforestation cannot be reasonably accomplished in the county and watershed in which the project is located, then the reforestation or afforestation shall occur in the county or watershed in the State in which the project is located.

(iii) If the reforestation or afforestation cannot be reasonably accomplished in the county or watershed in which the project is located, then the reforestation or afforestation shall be accomplished through purchase of credits in, establishment, or maintenance of a forest mitigation bank in accordance with regulations of the Department. The Reforestation Fund may not be used to finance administrative activities associated with a mitigation bank and any credits created by the Reforestation Fund may not be sold to compensate for additional forest impacts.

(g) Money deposited in the Fund under subsection (d) of this section may be used by the Department for the purpose of implementing this subtitle.

(h) (1) In lieu of a State Forest Conservation Fund, any local authority with an approved forest conservation program may establish a forest conservation fund, to be administered by the local authority, to allow a payment by any person who has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the local authority that the requirements for reforestation and afforestation on-site and off-site cannot be reasonably accomplished.

(2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the rates shall be:

1. For a project inside a priority funding area, at least the same as the rates established for the State Forest Conservation Fund under subsection (c) of this section; and

2. For a project outside a priority funding area, 20% higher than the rates established under item 1 of this subparagraph.

(ii) Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, if a local jurisdiction establishes rates for projects that are higher than the minimum rates established under subsection (c) of this section, the local authority may use a rate for a project:

1. Inside a priority funding area that is 20% lower than the rate calculated under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph; or

2. Outside a priority funding area that is 20% higher than the rate calculated under subparagraph (i)1 of this paragraph.

(iii) The rate established under subparagraph (ii)1 of this paragraph for a project inside a priority funding area may not be lower than the rate established for the State Forest Conservation Fund under subsection (c) of this section.

(i) (1) Money deposited in the local forest conservation fund under subsection (h) of this section may only be spent on reforestation and afforestation, including the costs directly related to site identification, acquisition, prepurchase, and preparation, maintenance of existing forests, and achieving urban canopy goals, and may not revert to any other local general fund.

(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph, the reforestation or afforestation requirement under this subsection shall occur in the county and watershed in which the project is located.

(ii) If the reforestation or afforestation cannot be reasonably accomplished in the county and watershed in which the project is located, then the reforestation or afforestation shall occur in the county or watershed in the State in which the project is located.

(iii) If the reforestation or afforestation cannot be reasonably accomplished in the county or watershed in which the project is located, then the reforestation or afforestation shall be accomplished through purchase of credits in, establishment, or maintenance of a forest mitigation bank in accordance with regulations of the local forest conservation program. The Reforestation Fund may not be used to finance administrative activities associated with a mitigation bank and any credits created by the Reforestation Fund may not be sold to compensate for additional forest impacts.

(j) Money collected by the local authority under § 5-1608(c) of this subtitle for noncompliance with this subtitle or regulations or ordinances adopted under this subtitle for noncompliance with a forest conservation plan or the associated 2-year management agreement shall be deposited in the local fund. The rate shall be 30 cents per square foot of the area found to be in noncompliance with the required forest conservation.

(k) Money deposited in a local forest conservation fund under subsection (j) of this section may be used by the local authority for purposes related to implementing this subtitle.

§ 5-1610 - 1. Forest mitigation banks

(a) Standards; regulations. -- The Department shall develop standards and adopt regulations for the creation and use of forest mitigation banks, including criteria for tracking, crediting, maintaining, bonding, and reporting mitigation bank activities.

(b) Procedures for establishment. -- A local jurisdiction may develop procedures for establishing forest mitigation banks as part of its forest conservation program.

(c) Location. -- Mitigation banks may be permitted only in priority areas as identified in § 5-1607(d) of this subtitle or as identified in a comprehensive plan adopted by a local jurisdiction.

(d) Sequence for retention, reforestation, or afforestation to be unaltered. -- The establishment of mitigation banks and their use may not alter the sequence for retention, reforestation, or afforestation on a development site as outlined in § 5-1607 of this subtitle.

(e) Criteria for use and establishment. -- Criteria established by local or State programs for the use and establishment of forest mitigation banks shall include protection and conservation in perpetuity of forest mitigation banks consistent with reasonable management plans, through methods that include easements, covenants, or similar mechanisms that shall be in place at the time credits are withdrawn.

(f) Construction of section. -- This section may not be construed to require the Department or a local jurisdiction to:

(1) Establish or fund State or local mitigation banks;

(2) Fund the establishment of forest mitigation banking by the private sector; or

(3) Use State or local government land for forest mitigation banking.

(g) Credits; debits. --

(1) Credits in a mitigation bank may not be approved for debiting until construction of the mitigation bank is complete.

(2) A mitigation bank shall maintain sufficient credits in reserve to cover anticipated expenses of completion of the mitigation bank.

§ 5-1610 - 2. Pilot Program for Forest Retention Banks

Abrogated.