This afternoon, we testified on HB161, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority Sunset Act. This important bill sets up a review by the state Department of Legislative Services to consider whether or how this quasi-state agency, created by the state in 1980 to plan and finance trash incinerators, should continue. For more details, check out our FAQ, watch the hearing recording, read the sign-on testimony below, and click here to add your organization's name!
Send an email to your delegates in support of HB161 here!
Testimony Supporting HB0161
House Environment & Transportation Committee
February 8, 2023
Position: SUPPORT
Dear Chair Barve and Members of the Committee,
The undersigned organizations urge a favorable report on HB161, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority Sunset Act, sponsored by Delegates Korman and Szeliga. This legislation tasks the Department of Legislative Services with conducting an evaluation of the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, a basic good-government step recommended for all such quasi-governmental agencies by the State Transparency and Accountability Review Commission in 2021. Since we do not want to see any new trash incinerators built in Maryland, and since other business conducted by the Waste Disposal Authority is duplicative of other quasi-governmental agencies, it makes sense for the state to evaluate this agency and carefully consider what are the right steps for its future. After the Department of Legislative Services conducts the evaluation requested in this bill, it will return a report to the legislature in December 2024, and any implementation steps will be for the legislature to consider in 2025 or later; this bill will simply give the legislature the necessary information and tools to make well-founded decisions. We urge you to support HB161 so that you will be equipped with this information in the future.
Sincerely,
Clean Water Action, Emily Ranson, Maryland Director
Environmental Justice Ministry, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Nanci Wilkins, EJM team
Maryland Legislative Coalition, Cecilia Plante, Co-Chair
Chesapeake Earth Holders, David Steigerwald, Maryland Legislative Lead
Echotopia LLC, Diane Wittner, Principal
Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Caroline Taylor, Executive Director
Indivisible Howard County, Richard Deutschmann, Co-Facilitator Climate Action Team
Baltimore Phil Berrigan Memorial Chapter Veterans For Peace, Ellen E Barfield, VFP Chapter Co-founder and Coordinator
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland, Phil Webster, Lead Advocate, Climate Change
Common Cause Maryland, Casey Hunter, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
HoCo Climate Action, Liz Feighner, Steering Committee
Elders Climate Action Maryland, Frances Stewart, Chapter Co-leader
Sustainable Hyattsville, Greg Smith, President, Board of Directors
Zero Waste Montgomery County, Susan Eisendrath, Volunteer
Regenerative Solutions, Daniela Ochoa Gonzalez, self-proprietor
Envision Frederick County, Karen Cannon, Executive Director
Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, Gwen L. DuBois, President
Sugarloaf Citizens' Association, Steven Findlay, President
