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Targeting a big source of the bay's pollutionThe Chesapeake region's largest wastewater treatment facility - Washington, D.C.'s Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant - is finally getting the attention it deserves. Congressional leaders have called hearings to investigate the bay's largest source of harmful nutrient pollution. Notice of Public Meeting on the Process to Develop a New General Permit for Stormwater Discharge[Notice from MDE] During the recent renewal process for the General Discharge Permit for Storm Water Discharges associated with Construction Activity, MDR10 (General Permit), the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) received significant comments from several stakeholders. Morony is named QA Republican of the YearFormer Lt. Gov. Steele is keynote speaker at Reagan Day Dinner Andi Morony of Centreville was named the 2007 Republican of the Year for Queen Anne's County on Saturday during the annual Queen Anne's County Republican Party Reagan Day Dinner, held at Prospect Bay County Club in Grasonville. Farmers offer lawn care tipsPractices can be good for bay, wallet Four Seasons development issue still unresolvedAlthough it has been almost a year since the state Board of Public Works halted a contentious development on Kent Island, an appeal of the body's ruling still remains unresolved in a Queen Anne's County court. Nutrient Pollution Reductions From Urban Stream Restoration QuantifiedA team of researchers led by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science researcher Dr. Sujay Kaushal has been among the first able to quantify the amount of excess nitrogen removed from an urban stream during environmental restoration projects. Algae strain threatens Gunpowder RiverDNR working with anglers to contain 'Didymo,' invasive species that travels on fishing gear Sprawl, declining bay grass raise concernsUrban sprawl is one of the main stressors on the Chesapeake Bay, according to a recent report from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Phosphates and the BayWhy cut a big corporation a break? Outside groups swayed Md. voteLoophole helped oust Wynn, Gilchrest; tactic may be put in wide use Political interest groups working outside the traditional confines of campaign finance laws spent more than $4.3 million in two Maryland congressional races during this year's primary, according to newly released campaign finance reports, and their success in defeating two incumbents here could portend an expensive and aggressive effort nationwide to target other swing districts in the coming months. Officials urge Md. gardeners to use fewer pollutantsThe Maryland Department of Agriculture launched a campaign today to highlight what farmers say is a little-known fact: Backyard gardening in the Chesapeake Bay watershed may be contributing as much nitrogen and phosphorus pollution as agriculture. Sewage sludge critics urge ban on spreadingBlaming sewage sludge for illnesses, critics called Wednesday for a ban on spreading the treated human waste as fertilizer. Poultry farms in Md. face policingProposal would require permits, steps for manure management The O'Malley administration is proposing regulations that would for the first time allow the state's environmental agency to police pollution from the Eastern Shore's huge poultry industry. Farm bill may help the bayDeal would add $380 million to programs for cleanup Bay grass acreage up, but revival not quick enoughUnderwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay are coming back, but not nearly as quickly as needed to restore the polluted estuary. QA school board releases salariesA study of Queen Anne's County Board of Education employee compensation indicates pay is more evenly distributed between rank and file employees and management, with a smaller gap when compared to individuals employed in other branches of county government. Why should you care about impact fees?The day after a group advising the County Council on impact fees released its final report, Councilman Ed Reilly was at the Rotary Club in Crofton answering questions. Why is this impact fee debate important to the average taxpayer? Septic tank dispute causing a stinkA coastal county on Maryland's Eastern Shore is leading the state in tackling potential water pollution from faulty septic tanks. But Queen Anne's County officials have also raised a big stink among residents who use septics, with some complaining the county's crackdown has gone too far. What is the Critical Area Protection Act?The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection Act was enacted in 1984 by the General Assembly to help reverse the deterioration of the Chesapeake Bay. The act designated all land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters or wetlands as a "Critical Area" - areas with the greatest potential to affect water quality, wildlife habitats and overall ecological health. An island rebornDredged material used to create wildlife sanctuary at Poplar Island Queen Anne's kindergartners best prepared in stateA report finds 89 percent ready for kindergarten, up from last year Franchot likens Maryland politics to corrupt Tammany HallState Comptroller Peter Franchot denied his tussles with state leaders are about positioning himself to run for governor, and insisted yesterday that he takes sides on an issue's merits, despite an Annapolis political culture comparable to the legendary, and corrupt, Tammany Hall. Trucker illegally dumped clam wasteBiden announces conviction on Earth Day; Hurlock, Md., driver will be sentenced June 13 Policy for Nutrient Cap Management and Trading[From MDE's web site] The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) through a public process has developed a Policy for Nutrient Cap Management and Trading (Policy), which took effect on April 17, 2008. It is a creative and innovative approach to managing point sources nutrient load caps. One aspect of Maryland's approach is unique. Other states allow trading in lieu of upgrading a WWTP. In Maryland, upgrade of major WWTPs is required and the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) was instituted to fully fund these upgrades. Hopkins defends spreading sludgeThe sewage sludge compost spread in a Baltimore City neighborhood, drawing calls for a federal investigation, poses no danger to residents, Johns Hopkins officials say. Harris wants state gas tax to be suspended; Kratovil calls suggestion irresponsibleThe Republican candidate for Maryland's 1st congressional district wants the state gas tax suspended for three months. His Democratic opponent said suspending the gas tax would be irresponsible without coming up with a plan to offset the loss of tax revenues to the state. Planet-Friendly Paving Lets Water Seep ThroughPaved sidewalks and driveways keep shoes clean and cars out of the mud. But environmentally speaking, too much paving is a disaster, blanketing the ground and preventing rainwater from soaking in. Runoff, especially after strong storms, erodes soil and carries oily residue into streams and eventually into sensitive estuaries such as the Chesapeake Bay. Decide for yourselfRather then listening to the hype in e-mails and blogs, see for your self what is to be added to County Code by Ordinance 08-09 "Mandatory Pump-Out of On-Site Septic Systems." It looks like a painless way to get people to maintain their septic systems if they are not already doing so without establishing a sewer police force. Gansler visits Kent to kick off Bay auditPanned closed meeting is opened to public Echo Hill's buyboatAnnie D. chugged into the Chesterwith Andy McKown at the helm Wednesday morning. McKown took Attorney General Doug Gansler, his Special Assistant for the Environment Erin Fitzsimmons, and his entourage through the drawbridge and upriver as far as Morgan Creek, and south again as far as Chester River Landing. GOP leaders want 'de facto' ban liftedMaryland Republicans called on Gov. Martin O'Malley on Wednesday to lift a "de facto" ban on the death penalty after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of lethal injection in Kentucky executions. QA considers sports, learning centerPrivate sector would finance, run facility Queen Anne's County officials want to offer the private sector a chance to build a sports and learning center in Centreville. Lovers Lane to get Kent [County] sewer linesLovers Lane will be getting county sewer service, Wayne Morris said. Anne Arundel impact fee bill pulledCounty Executive John R. Leopold withdrew his bill Monday to dramatically increase impact fees in hopes of devising a proposal that will pass the County Council. NAACP asks AG to probe sludge researchThe head of the Maryland chapter of the NAACP asked the state attorney general's office Monday to conduct criminal and civil rights investigations into research in which fertilizer made from sewage sludge was spread onto lawns in poor black neighborhoods. Harris leads in fundraising in 1stRepublican takes in twice rival's total Md.'s new 'green' watchdogAttorney general launches public meetings seeking tips on curbing bay, river pollution Attorney General Gansler to visit ChestertownAs part of the Attorney General's audit of the Chesapeake Bay and it's [sic] tributaries, Attorney General Gansler will visit Chestertown, Maryland on Wednesday, April 16th to hear firsthand from local environmental leaders, residents and elected officials the challenges facing the Chester River. As part of his visit, Attorney General Gansler will take a boat trip down the Chester River at 11:30 am. The boat will depart from the Chestertown Marina at 211 S. High Street in downtown Chestertown. In addition to the boat trip, Attorney General Gansler will host a Town Hall meeting at Washington College at 5:00 p.m. in Hodson Hall, 300 Washington Avenue. The public is invited to attend the meeting and share with the Attorney General their concerns about the health of the Chester River. QA bill would require sewer pumpoutsThe Queen Anne's County Commissioners introduced two bills April 8 aimed at protecting the environment. Sludge Makeup Hard to KnowEvery day Larry Slattery goes to work, the Environmental Protection Agency asks him to do the impossible. Not only does Arlington County's water pollution control chief have to separate sewage and other pollutants from the wastewater gushing into the treatment plant. He also must turn the leftover sludge into a fertilizer and eliminate any risks of spreading illness when it is used. Sludge Tested As Lead-Poisoning FixScientists using federal grants spread fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes on yards in poor, black neighborhoods to test whether it might protect children from lead poisoning in the soil. Families were assured the sludge was safe and were never told about any harmful ingredients. Fertilizer may help lawn, but it hurts waterNow that spring is here, we might feel the urge to go out and fertilize our lawns, hoping for that lush green carpet of summer. MDE inconsistency irks county commissionersSometimes Kent's Comprehensive Plan matters. Sometimes it doesn't. Just ask the Maryland Department of the Environment, the county commissioners said last week. Exploratory well yield insufficientAn exploratory well recently drilled in Queenstown in search of an arsenic-free water source may not be the immediate answer to the town's water supply issues. QA COLAs below inflation ratesnalysis of statistics released by Queen Anne's County Administrator John Borders and data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show cost-of-living-allowance increases for county employees have been below inflation rates for the Mid-Shore area for at least the last four years. Bay group withdraws its report criticizing Kent Co.But Chesapeake Bay Foundation officials have no answer to questions raised by county, paper On Monday afternoon, four Chesapeake Bay Foundation staff members met with Kent County Planning Director Gail Owings and Environmental Planner Amy Moredock. They were at 400 High St. to talk about a recent CBF report that put Kent County on what Owings has called "the naughty list." Success of Environmental Legislation Mixed in Tough Economic TimesThe 2008 Maryland legislative session kicked off with optimistic rallies and press conferences to support a slew of bills designed to help the state's environment, including addressing climate change and allocating money to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, among other things. Hearing to Enlarge the Boundaries of the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage AreaFrom the MD Department of Planning: The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority will hold a public hearing on a proposal to expand the boundaries of the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area to include the Towns of Denton (Caroline County); Preston (Caroline County); Queen Anne (Queen Anne's and Caroline Counties); Queenstown (Queen Anne's County); and Oxford (Talbot County).
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