Bill > SB253

Introduced Session

This Act adds provisions to 4004 of Title 7 to exclude from Chapter 40 of Title 7 land disturbing activities of 1 acre or less of land and to exclude from the requirement for a sediment and stormwater management plan the construction of an agricultural structure construction project subject to a standard plan. If the Department provides for the use of a standard plan in lieu of a detailed sediment and stormwater plan, this Act requires the Department to provide that an agricultural structure construction project with a total land disturbance of 10 acres or less is entitled to a standard plan. Notwithstanding the regulatory power granted to the Department by 4006(a) through (c) of Title 7, this Act creates 4006(e) of Title 7 to prohibit the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (“Department”) from promulgating a regulation that relies on a stormwater runoff volume reduction approach. It is the General Assembly’s intent that this prohibition result in the Department repealing the existing Sediment and Stormwater Regulations, 5101, Title 7 of the Delaware Administrative Code, (“Sediment and Stormwater Regulations”) and replacing them with a responsible state stormwater management program that can be complied with without extensive offset payments. This Act amends 4006(d) to make clear that the Department may promulgate regulations only after a public hearing. This Act creates 4006(f) of Title 7 to require both a regulatory impact statement under 10404A of Title 29 and a regulatory flexibility analysis under 10404B of Title 29, even if the Department could otherwise claim an exemption under 10404A(b)(1) of 10404B(b)(1) of Title 29. This Act adds “agricultural structure” and “standard plan” as defined terms in 4002 of Title 7, largely adopting the definition of these terms as used in the Sediment and Stormwater Regulations. This Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the guidelines of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Gerald Hocker (R)*,  Colin Bonini (R),  Ruth Briggs King (R),  Bill Carson (D),  Timothy Dukes (R),  Ron Gray (R),  Bethany Hall-Long (D),  Deborah Hudson (R),  Earl Jaques (D),  Harvey Kenton (R),  Gregory Lavelle (R),  Dave Lawson (R),  John Mitchell (D),  Trey Paradee (D),  Brian Pettyjohn (R),  Bryant Richardson (R),  Pete Schwartzkopf (D),  F. Gary Simpson (R),  Jeff Spiegelman (R),  Dave Wilson (R),  Lyndon Yearick (R), 

Signed by Governor (on 06/24/2016)

Official Document