Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB371: Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Repealing a provision of law requiring a person to hold a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) general discharge permit issued by the Department of the Environment before the person may begin construction on any part of a new CAFO; and authorizing the Department to authorize a person to begin construction on any part of a new animal feeding operation under an approval process established by the Department that requires the person to demonstrate compliance with certain requirements, laws, and regulations.
What the bill says
An act concerning Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations FOR the purpose of repealing a requirement that certain provision of law requiring a person to hold a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) general discharge permit issued by the Department of the Environment before the person may begin construction on any part of a new CAFO; authorizing the Department, under certain circumstances, to authorize a person to begin construction on any part of a new animal feeding operation under a certain approval process established by the Department…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations FOR the purpose of repealing a requirement that certain provision of law requiring a person to hold a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) general discharge permit issued by the Department of the Environment before the person may begin construction on any part of a new CAFO; authorizing the Department, under certain circumstances, to authorize a person to begin construction on any part of a new animal feeding operation under a certain approval process established by the Department; and generally relating to the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the State and concentrated animal feeding operations. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Environment Section 9-323 Annotated Code of Maryland (2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Environment 9-323. (a) [(1)] A EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A person shall hold a discharge permit issued by the Department before the person may construct, install, modify, extend, alter, or operate any of the following if its operation could cause or increase the discharge of pollutants into the waters of this State: [(i)] (1) An industrial, commercial, or recreational facility or disposal system; …