**Maryland Fisheries - Boating Home Pages**

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401

https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/default.aspx

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BOATING

https://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Pages/default.aspx

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY – South River – Duvall Creek
BOAT DEALER LICENSE – Update to Fees
CERTIFICATE OF BOAT NUMBER – Revocation
CHARLES COUNTY – Potomac River – Westmoreland (VA) State Park
DORCHESTER COUNTY – Nanticoke River – Marshyhope Creek
GENERAL – Definition of Class A Vessel
GENERAL – Personal Flotation Device Updates
OPERATION OF VESSELS – Emergency Cut-Off Switch Requirement
SAFETY RULES – Recreational Vessels
SPEED ZONES AND RESTRICTED AREAS – Emergency and Temporary Zones - OPEN FOR COMMENT
ST. MARY’S COUNTY – Patuxent River – Cuckold Creek

Regulation Definitions for Boating

​Scoping
During the scoping process, the Department gathers suggestions and ideas from stakeholders and others about how to solve a boating problem or address a need. The goal of scoping is to identify issues, potential impacts, and reasonable alternatives associated with the issues so that management actions can be developed. The Department considers these comments and develops an appropriate management strategy.

Development
After the public has had an opportunity to comment on the initial regulation request, the information is presented to the Boat Act Advisory Committee for further review. The public may make additional comments at the meeting. The Department, in consultation with the Boat Act Advisory Committee, considers the comments and develops an appropriate management strategy. The Secretary of Natural Resources then decides if a management strategy is necessary and appropriate. If the action is necessary and appropriate, a proposal is sent to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee (AELR). AELR analyzes each proposal for legal and fiscal concerns. The proposal is then sent to the Division of State Documents (DSD) for publishing in the Maryland Register. DSD staff edit the proposal for proper format prior to printing.

Comment Period
This part of the process begins when the proposal is published in the Maryland Register. The public comment period is 30 days for all proposed regulations in Maryland as required by State law. The Department welcomes public comment on proposed regulations. Comments on the proposal provide the Department with additional information and perspectives that in some cases may be incorporated into editorial changes.

Final Decision
At the end of the 30 day comment period the Secretary of Natural Resources decides whether to approve or disapprove the proposed measure. A final action will be sent to the Division of State Documents (DSD) for printing in the Maryland Register.

Effective
A final action is published in the Maryland Register stating the date that the management action is effective.

Resolution of Previous Regulation Requests