We Want Others to Save Our Bays

Back in 2007, the Maryland General Assembly, in a fit of rationality, passed the Stormwater Management Act of 2007.  After two years of listening to various stakeholders around Maryland and examining the requirements of the Act, the Maryland Department of the Environment has gotten around to issuing regulations.  Basically, the regulations require developers to implement strict controls over stormwater in new developments so that what runoff eventually flows into our streams and bays does not add to the pollution.

Predictably, developers are unhappy.  They would prefer to dump runoff unfettered directly into our public waters carrying with it all the dirt, trash, motor oil, pesticides and fertilizers its picked up on the way.

Now, a group of delegates, led by Marvin Holmes a Democrat from Prince Georges County who, not incidentally works for a big developer, wants to gut the law.  Their proposal, HB1125, would allow every development in the state which has received even the most preliminary approval to ignore the new regulations.  The measure would also reduce requirements for certain 'favored' developments.

This is not a trivial issue.  Stormwater pollution contributes 17% of all phosphorus, 11% of nitrogen and about 9% of the sediment load in the Chesapeake Bay and significant amounts in our coastal bays.  Stormwater also carries pesticides and other pollutants.

Please contact our legislators and urge them to oppose this bill.

Norm Conway  410-841-3407  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JIm Mathias  410-841-3431  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it