Bill > H868

This bill amends state law to establish quality assurance standards for testing water bodies and waterways for bacteria or other pollutants following a combined sewage overflow (CSO) event. The bill requires the state environmental department, in consultation with the public health department, to conduct water quality testing at multiple locations downstream from each CSO outfall within a reasonable time after a CSO notification. The department is also required to compile the data, create a predictive model for post-CSO water quality, and use the data to determine areas with high bacteria content. Permittees with high bacteria levels will be required to develop a CSO mitigation plan that the department must approve, and these permittees will be prioritized for state stormwater funding. The bill also modifies existing requirements for permittees to report discharge volumes and install metering equipment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H868