§ 19-49. Administration.

The Director must administer and enforce this Article.

(a) The Director must coordinate programs relating to water pollution abatement and seek the cooperation and assistance of all County agencies, municipalities and regional agencies, and state regulatory agencies when their programs affect the County.

(b) The County Executive, subject to confirmation by the Council, must appoint a Water Quality Advisory Group, composed of up to 3 non-voting representatives of government agencies and 15 voting members. The voting members should consist of up to 3 representatives each of academic and scientific experts, environmental groups, the agricultural community, and the business community, with the rest from the public at large. The Group must recommend to the Executive and the Council by March 1 each year water quality goals, objectives, policies, and programs. Each member must be appointed for a 3-year term unless appointed to fill the balance of an unexpired term. The Group each year must select a chair and any other officer it finds necessary. The Group must not engage in any advocacy activity at the State or federal levels unless that activity is approved by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

(c) The Director may recommend regulations to establish water use classes and water quality standards or criteria which exceed minimum state water use classes, standards, or criteria as set forth in state regulations, or for other purposes necessary to administer this Article. The Executive may adopt regulations for these purposes under method (1).

(d) This Article and any regulations adopted under it must not waive any requirement imposed by the federal Clean Water Act, the state Department of the Environment, or the state Department of Natural Resources. (1994 L.M.C., ch. 31, § 1; , § 1; , § 1.)