01.01.2023.11
EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2023.11
(Amends Executive Order 01.01.1985.02) Governor’s Council on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed
A. Establishment. There is a Governor’s Council on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed (“Council”).
B. Membership. The Council shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Secretary of Natural Resources;
(2) The Secretary of the Environment;
(3) The Secretary of Health;
(4) The Secretary of Agriculture;
(5) The Secretary of Planning;
(6) The Director of the Maryland Energy Administration;
(7) The Executive Director of the Maryland Environmental Service;
(8) The State’s Chief Resilience Officer; and
(9) Other officials of the Executive Branch that the Governor may designate.
(10) The President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences is invited to be, and shall be upon acceptance, a member of the Commission.
C. Chair. The Governor shall appoint a Chair from among the members of the Council.
D. Meetings of the Council.
(1) The Council shall meet at least quarterly to receive information and discuss issues of Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed management.
(2) The Council Chair may convene meetings of the Council and shall preside over the meetings.
E. Functions. The principal functions of the Council are to:
(1) Advise and provide periodic recommendations to the Governor about matters related to the management of the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed and surrounding areas, including but not limited to:
a. Progress in meeting the annual Statewide implementation plan;
b. Need for programmatic and budgetary adjustments;
c. The results and conduct of Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed monitoring programs;
d. Establishment of annual Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed research priorities; and
e. Maryland's participation on regional issues of Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed management;
(2) Promote interagency coordination and integration of Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Watershed related programs to:
a. Guide the State’s restoration and water quality improvement programs consistent with the most up-to-date scientific knowledge and technologies;
b. Accelerate the restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and local watersheds to ensure that all Marylanders have clean drinking water and accessible clean waterways;
c. Promote equity by focusing on the long-term, collective benefits of healthy watersheds and their connection to the health of Maryland’s environment, economy and people;
d. Ensure that investments in watershed restoration provide important climate resiliency benefits; and
e. Develop strategies to address the challenges and opportunities that the State’s population growth presents to Bay restoration and the environment overall;
(3) Develop and oversee the State’s coordinated environmental, cultural and natural resources infrastructure while pursuing innovative partnerships and funding opportunities;
(4) Seek regular input of Maryland citizens and stakeholders, particularly those representing underserved and overburdened communities.
F. Administration.
(1) The Council may establish working groups as necessary.
(2) The Council shall be staffed by Executive Department staff.
(3) The Council shall establish appropriate procedures to seek advice on issues related to research, management, and public participation.
G. This Executive Order shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with all applicable statutes and regulations. Nothing in this Executive Order shall operate to contravene any State or federal law or to affect the State’s receipt of federal funding.
H. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person, entity, or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, all other provisions or applications of the Executive Order shall remain in effect to the extent possible without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are severable.
Effective Date: July 20, 2023
