The following outlines current “Notices of Proposed Action” for proposed regulations pending public comment and proposed emergency regulations pending approval that have been requested by the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture and published in the Maryland Register. Click on any of the headlines listed below to read the proposed regulations in their entirety. The contact information and deadline for submitting comments is also included below.
Notice of Proposed Action
The following proposals were published in the May 3, 2013 Maryland Register:
Proposal to Transfer Lot Released from Easement for Landowner or Child (Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation)
The Secretary of Agriculture proposes to amend Regulations .01 — .04, repeal existing Regulations .05 and .06, and adopt new Regulations .05 — .07 under COMAR 15.15.06 Lot Released from Easement for Landowner or Child.
Proposal to Amend Pesticide Use Control Regulations (March Maryland Register)
The Secretary of Agriculture proposes to amend Regulations .01 and .14 under COMAR 15.05.01 Use and Sale of Pesticides, Certification of Pesticide Applicators and Pest Control Consultants, and Licensing of Pesticide Businesses.
Re-Proposal to Amend Pesticide Use Control Regulations
The Secretary of Agriculture proposes to amend Regulations .01 and .14 under COMAR 15.05.01 Use and Sale of Pesticides, Certification of Pesticide Applicators and Pest control Consultants, and Licensing of Pesticide Businesses. Because substantive changes have been made to the original proposal as published in 40:2 Md. R. 153—155 (January 25, 2013), this action is being reproposed at this time.
Proposal to Amend Soil and Water Conservation Regulations
The Secretary of Agriculture proposes to amend Regulations .01, .02, .04, .05, and .07 under COMAR 15.20.06 Nutrient and Commercial Fertilizer Application Requirements for Agricultural Land [and Land, Including State Property, Not Used for Agricultural Purposes]. The Secretary of Agriculture also proposes new Regulations .01-.17 under a new Chapter, COMAR 15.20.10 Fertilizer Application Requirements for Land Not Used for Agricultural Purposes.
Comments may be sent to Jo A. Mercer, Ed.D., Administrator, Nutrient Management Program, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call 410-841-5959, or email to Jo.Mercer@maryland.gov, or fax to 410-841-5950. Comments will be accepted through February 25, 2013. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
NOTE: Sections .04 and .06 (above) have been adopted as Final Actions. The other sections are pending.
Proposal to Amend Soil and Water Conservation Regulations
The Secretary of Agriculture proposes to amend Regulation .02 under COMAR 15.20.07 Agricultural Operation Nutrient Management Plan Requirements. The Secretary of Agriculture also proposes to amend Regulations .02 and .05 under COMAR 15.20.08 Content and Criteria for a Nutrient Management Plan Developed for an Agricultural Operation.
Comments may be sent to Jo A. Mercer, Ed.D., Administrator, Nutrient Management Program, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call 410-841-5959, or email to Jo.Mercer@maryland.gov, or fax to 410-841-5950. Comments will be accepted through February 25, 2013. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
NOTE: Click here for the new phosphorus technical guidance information that will be incorporated by reference into the Maryland Nutrient Management Manual.
Proposed Emergency Regulations
There are no emergency regulations under proposal at this time.
Notices of Final Action
The following notices were published in the May 3, 2013 Maryland Register.
Proposal to Amend Soil and Water Conservation Regulations
On April 23, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted new Regulations .04 and .06 under COMAR 15.20.10 Fertilizer Application Requirements for Land Not Used for Agricultural Purposes. The proposed amendments to Regulations .01, .02, .04, and .05, and the repeal of .07 under COMAR 15.20.06 Nutrient and Commercial Fertilizer Application Requirements for Agricultural Land and new Regulations .01 — .03, .05, and .07 — .17 under COMAR 15.20.10 Fertilizer Application Requirements for Land Not Used for Agricultural Purposes are not being adopted at this time.
The following notices were published in the March 22, 2013 Maryland Register:
Proposal to Amend Maryland Horse Industry Board Regulations
On March 13, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted: (1) Amendments to Regulations .02, and .04 — .08 under COMAR 15.16.01 General Regulations; and (2) Amendments to Regulations .01 and .02, the repeal of existing Regulation .03, and the amendments and recodification of existing Regulations .04 — .06 to be Regulations .03 — .05 under COMAR 15.16.03 Administrative Penalty Standards. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 40:2 Md. R. 155 - 157 (January 25, 2013), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: April 1, 2013
The following notices were published in the January 11, 2013 Maryland Register:
Proposal to Amend Certification Seed Mixing.
On December 18, 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted Regulation .11 under COMAR 15.08.05 Certified Seed Mixing. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:22 Md. R. 1460 (November 2, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: January 21, 2013.
Proposal to Amend the Seed Certification Program.
On January 2, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted amendments to Regulation .19 under COMAR 15.08.03 Seed Certification. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:23 Md. R. 1557 (November 16, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: January 21, 2013.
Proposal to Amend the Regulation of Invasive Plants.
On January 2, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted new Regulations .01 — .05 under a new chapter, COMAR 15.06.04 Regulation of Invasive Plants. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:23 Md. R. 1555 - 1556 (November 16, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: January 21, 2013.
Proposal to Amend the Civil Penalty Standards for Weights & Measures.
On January 2, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted amendments to Regulation .02 under COMAR 15.03.10 Civil Penalty Standards for Weights and Measures. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:23 Md. R. 1555 (November 16, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: January 21, 2013.
Proposal to Amend the Compost Regulations.
On January 2, 2013, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted amendments to Regulation .02 under COMAR 15.18.04 Compost. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:23 Md. R. 1557-1558 (November 16, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: January 21, 2013.
The following notices were published in the December 14, 2012 Maryland Register:
Proposal to Amend the Cost Sharing Water Pollution Control Program.
On December 4, 2012, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Environment jointly adopted Regulations .02, .09 and .10 under COMAR 15.01.05 Cost Sharing - Water Pollution Control Program. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:21 Md. R. 1397 - 1398 (October 19, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: December 24, 2012.
Proposal to Amend the Apiary Inspection Program.
On December 4, 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted: (1) New Regulations .08 and .09 under COMAR 15.07.01 General Regulations; and (2) The Repeal of existing Regulations .01 - .09 under COMAR 15.07.02 Varroa Mite Control for Bees Transported Into or Through Maryland. This action, which was proposed for adoption in 39:21 Md. R. 1398 - 1399 (October 19, 2012), has been adopted as proposed. Effective Date: December 24, 2012.