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HB1765: Septic Stewardship Plans
Pollution from septic systems is an ongoing issue in local Maryland streams and rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and in wells. Last summer, we participated in a summer working group to identify the problems and possible solutions for moving forward. HB1765 is a result of collaboration among stakeholders and has passed the House of Delegates. This bill has passed both the House and Senate!
The Problem:
There are two types of pollution associated with septic systems: nitrogen and bacteria.
Nitrogen is a nutrient pollutant - a fertilizer for plants that can cause algae blooms and deadzones in our
Baltimore City and basement sewage back-ups
Two years ago, as Baltimore City renegotiated its agreement with the EPA to repair faults and design flaws in its sewage system, residents spoke out and organized because their neighborhoods had a chronic sewage problem: at times the system designed to collect and pipe sewage to treatment plants would fail, causing raw sewage to overflow into their homes. As a result of these protests and comments submitted by advocacy groups, the final consent decree was revised to include requirements that Baltimore develop programs for basement backups caused by problems in city-owned infrastructure. Under
Protect our Forests and Fix the FCA
The Maryland Forest Conservation Act was designed to protect Maryland's forests; it implemented replanting requirements and minimum forested thresholds, and required more county oversight to protect our forests from over-development. While the law slowed forest clearance in some places, the law is falling short of protecting priority forests, especially where development pressure is intense and there are large, contiguous forests.
It is time to update the Forest Conservation Act!
Senate Bill 610, sponsored by Senator Young, and House Bill 766, sponsored by Delegate Healey, would amend the
Speaking out on sewage
Baltimore's sewage system is in trouble. Sanitary sewage outfalls allow untreated sewage to spill into our streams during rainstorms. Overflowing pipes spill water into our streets, and even our basements. And major capital improvements are needed at our wastewater treatment facilities and throughout the system for Baltimore to clean up our waterways that lead to the Inner Harbor and keep pollution out of our neighborhoods.
A consent decree signed last year by Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the EPA outlines the steps that Baltimore must take to fix these
Resolve to Help Us Win in 2018
As the new year begins, we are gearing up for another legislative session in Maryland. Here are our priorities for this year.
Forest Conservation Act: Maryland is losing forest to development daily and we are not adequately replacing those trees. Forests are vital for the health of Maryland’s waterways - they not only filter pollutants but they also act like a big sponge and soak up floodwaters. We need an amended Forest Conservation Act that will protect our most important forests.
Fix It, Fund It: The DC metro system needs help. Years of deferring large scale maintenance and improvement