Md. Code Regs. 26.03.02.02

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 24, December 2, 2024

Section 26.03.02.02 - General Requirements

A. Applications for Approval. The application for approval of plans shall be made by the proper municipal or county authorities, corporation, or person for whom the work is to be done, or their properly authorized engineers or agents. It shall consist of a letter briefly describing the project for which approval is requested. When applicable, evidence of approval by the Public Service Commission or by the Maryland Geological Survey shall be a requisite part of the application.

B. Engineer's Report.

(1) A complete engineering report, if prepared or required, shall accompany or precede the receipt of plans and specifications for each new major sanitary project.

(2) The report shall contain full information discussing any existing facility, the proposed or new facility, and include all pertinent data necessary to permit a clear and comprehensive review of the subject.

C. Submission of Plans and Specifications.

(1) Plans and complete specifications for proposed work should be submitted for approval at least 30 days before action on them shall be expected, although action, by the State, may be taken before the expiration of that time. Design manuals, standard details, and standard specifications on file with and previously approved by the Department of the Environment will be construed to be applicable to future projects, when so designated, unless modified by supplementary and specific contract plans and specifications.

(2) All reports, plans, and specifications for sanitary engineering projects shall be prepared by, signed by, and bear the seal of a registered professional engineer. Landscaping and any architectural feature of any building, pumping station, water filtration plant, sewage disposal plant, elevated water storage unit, bathhouse or recreation facility for a swimming pool may also be submitted, signed by and bear the seal of a registered architect. Plans relating to the subdivision of land and prepared for the purpose of filing record plats with clerks of the court in the various political subdivisions of the State shall bear the signature and seal of a registered land surveyor. Plans not conforming with the requirements of this subsection will not be accepted.

D. Kinds of Plans.

(1) All plans shall be neatly and legibly drawn upon tracing cloth or acceptable paper so that copies may be obtained. Except where the originals are presented for preliminary judgment, they shall be kept by the party presenting the plans, and true copies, which may be white, blue, or black-line prints, offset prints, or photostats on a white background, shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Environment.

(2) Plans will not be returned after submission unless revisions are necessary, or unless they have been presented for preliminary review only.

(3) When revisions are necessary, the revisions shall be made on the original tracings and new prints submitted. Pencil, crayon, ink, typewritten, or other revisions, changes, or additions on prints, photostats, or other reproductions may not be acceptable. Revisions or additions may not be made to prints previously or currently submitted to the Secretary of the Environment.

(4) Plans specifically prepared for each installation will be required.

E. Sizes of Plans. A specific size of plans is not mandatory. Drawings not exceeding 30 inches wide by 42 inches long are preferred. Drawings with overall dimensions of less than 8-1/2 x 11 inches will not be accepted.

F. General Plans--Scales.

(1) General plans or key maps of water supply, sanitary, or storm drainage systems; showing the location of sources of water supply, transmission, and distribution mains; lateral, interception, and trunk sewers; water and sewage treatment works; and storm drains should preferably be to a scale not greater than 1 inch equals 40 feet, or less than 1 inch equals 200 feet. Established coordinate systems and U.S. Bench Marks data, if available, shall be given. Locality plans may have a scale as small as 1 inch equals 1 mile. An arrow designating the direction of north shall be shown.

(2) Detailed and sectional plans may be drawn to any scale suitable for the purpose.

(3) Architectural scales for general engineering drawings will not be accepted for review and approval.

G. Number of Plans. Unless otherwise requested, only one report, one drawing, or one set of drawings and one set of specifications shall be submitted for review and approval. If acceptable and approved, they will be retained in the files of the Secretary of the Environment, and an appropriate reference made to them in the written permit.

H. Title of Plans.

(1) In the lower right-hand corner, or along the bottom border, of each separate drawing shall be placed a proper title containing the name of the county, municipality, company, institution, person or persons for whom it is made, the name of the locality to which it refers, a proper description for a full understanding of the nature of the drawing, and the scale, date, and name of the engineer, architect, or surveyor preparing it.

(2) On every plan showing a locality or street layout, an arrow shall be placed, designating the direction of north. Plans should be so arranged, wherever practicable, that north is towards the top or to the left of the sheet.

I. As Constructed Plans. Upon completion of the work shown by plans originally approved by the Secretary of the Environment, and if material changes in the work developed during the construction operations, a revised set or a totally new set of plans showing all work, as constructed, shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Environment to replace the plans previously approved and to serve as a guide for all future work. If revised drawings are not necessary, a statement shall be supplied indicating all work was done in accordance with the original plans.

J. Adequate Financial Management Plans.

(1) Before the Department may issue a permit for the construction of a publicly-owned community sewerage system, a financial management plan sufficient to ensure the dependable and safe operation of the system shall be adopted in the county water and sewerage plan ("the county plan") and approved by the Department. The following requirements shall be satisfied:

(a) For a new, proposed, self-contained, publicly-owned community sewerage system:

(i) The proposed system shall be described through new narrative text and revised tables and maps in a county plan amendment or update, and this amendment or update shall be adopted by the county governing body and approved by the Department, and

(ii) A Schedule FS and a countywide financial organizational narrative meeting the requirements of COMAR 26.03.01.08B for the new sewerage system shall be adopted within the county plan and approved by the Department;

(b) For an extension to an existing publicly-owned community or multi-use sewerage system:

(i) A completed Schedule FS for the system shall appear in the county plan and be approved by the Department,

(ii) For the first year following the adoption of this regulation, instead of §J(1)(b)(i), of this regulation, the Department may accept a certification from the county or its attorney that the appropriate local governing body has the authority to collect revenues to cover sewerage system costs.

(2) Before the Department may issue a permit for the construction of a new, self-contained, privately-owned community or multi-use sewerage system, or of an extension to an existing or self-contained, privately-owned community or multi-use sewerage system, the following requirements shall be satisfied:

(a) The project shall be described in the county plan in the correct service area category designation and designated by the appropriate map symbol.

(b) A Schedule FS shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval.

Md. Code Regs. 26.03.02.02

Regulation .02C amended effective August 8, 1980 (7:16 Md. R. 1595) ----------
Regulation .02J adopted effective July 25, 1988 (15:15 Md. R. 1813); amended effective 45:12 Md. R. 617, eff. 6/18/2018