1. (a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Contested case hearing” means an adjudicatory hearing in accordance with the contested case procedures of Subtitle 2 of the Maryland Administrative Procedure Act.¹
3. (c) “County” means a county of this State and, unless expressly provided otherwise, Baltimore City.
4. (d) “Department” means the Department of the Environment.

5. (e) “EJ Score” means an overall evaluation of an area's environment and existing environmental justice indicators, as defined by the Department in regulation, including:

   1. (1) Pollution burden exposure;
   2. (2) Pollution burden environmental effects;
   3. (3) Sensitive populations; and
   4. (4) Socioeconomic factors.
6. (f) “Environmental justice” has the meaning stated in § 1-701 of this title.
7. (g) “Health officer” means the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health or the health officer of a county.
8. (h) “Includes” or “including” means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.
9. (i) “Informational meeting” means a meeting, open to the public, at which the applicant or the Department presents information concerning a permit application. An informational meeting is not a contested case hearing nor an agency hearing under § 10-202(d) of the State Government Article.

10. (j) “Maryland EJ tool” means a publicly available State mapping tool that allows users to:

    1. (1) Explore layers of environmental justice concern;
    2. (2) Determine an overall EJ Score for census tracts in the State; and
    3. (3) View additional context layers relevant to an area.
11. (k) “Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind and any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.
12. (l) “Physician” means an individual who is authorized under the Maryland Medical Practice Act² to practice medicine in this State.
13. (m) “Public hearing” means a meeting, open to the public, at which the Department receives oral and written comments concerning a tentative determination. A public hearing is not a contested case hearing nor an agency hearing under § 10-202(d) of the State Government Article.
14. (n) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Environment.

15. (o) “State” means:

    1. (1) A state, possession, or territory of the United States;
    2. (2) The District of Columbia; or
    3. (3) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
16. (p) “Substantively” means in a manner substantially affecting the rights, duties, or obligations of a member of the public.

Added by Acts 1982, c. 240, § 2. Amended by Acts 1984, c. 748; Acts 1984, c. 779; Acts 1985, c. 305; Acts 1987, c. 306, § 3; Acts 1993, c. 59, § 2; Acts 1994, c. 3, § 1, eff. Feb. 28, 1994; Acts 2003, c. 445, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, c. 446, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, c. 460, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003; Acts 2009, c. 650, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2009, c. 651, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 211, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2022, c. 588, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.

State Government § 10-201 et seq.

Health Occupations, § 14-101 et seq.