House of Delegates Strengthens Maryland Stormwater Law.
SB863 adds greater accountability to local government pollution reduction programs.
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—The Clean Water, Healthy Families coalition [including Chesapeake Bay Foundation] today applauded the work done by the House of Delegates' Environment and Transportation Committee on SB863, which revises Maryland's stormwater legislation. The bill—sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller—has undergone dramatic changes since its introduction in February. The coalition believes this legislation will help Maryland's ten largest jurisdictions fund pollution-reducing projects to meet federal Clean Water Act requirements.
The amended legislation is expected to receive a final floor vote on the House floor today, the final day of the General Assembly session, and then head to the Senate. Clean Water, Healthy Families released the following statement:
"Polluted runoff makes our waterways unsafe for swimming, threatens Maryland seafood and causes localized flooding and property damage. Fortunately, Maryland continues to take steps to address this threat. The current language of SB863 significantly improves the implementation of Maryland's landmark 2012 stormwater legislation. With the passage of this legislation, we believe counties will be on track to meet their polluted runoff reduction goals and the new reporting requirements will allow us to hold counties accountable. The result will be less pollution reaching local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
http://www.cbf.org/news-media/newsroom/2015/04/13/house-of-delegates-strengthens-maryland-stormwater-law