Archive | Environment

Lawmakers challenge O’Malley, environment secretary on flush tax hike; small businesses could see 250% increase

Lawmakers challenge O’Malley, environment secretary on flush tax hike; small businesses could see 250% increase

February 14, 2012

Gov. Martin O’Malley and Environment Secretary Robert Summers were questioned by lawmakers Tuesday on the cost for the proposed consumption-based flush tax on homes and businesses. [...more]

Environment, News, Taxes Comments (2)

Study finds chicken manure pollution overstated

Study finds chicken manure pollution overstated

February 5, 2012

Eastern Shore farmers and representatives of the poultry industry told lawmakers Friday that EPA estimates on nutrient pollution from poultry production are outdated and way overstated, according to a new study from the University of Delaware. [...more]

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Public water users could see flush tax quadruple while septic users would pay double

Public water users could see flush tax quadruple while septic users would pay double

January 27, 2012

Many homes on public water and sewer in Maryland could see their flush tax triple to over $100 a year for the Bay Restoration Fund -- much higher than homes on septic systems, which would see the fee double to a $60 cap under Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed consumption-based tax. [...more]

Environment, News Comments (6)

Summers says Bay Restoration Fund needs another $385 million, spars with Eastern Shore lawmakers over fairness of flush tax

Summers says Bay Restoration Fund needs another $385 million, spars with Eastern Shore lawmakers over fairness of flush tax

January 22, 2012

Environment Secretary Robert Summers told Eastern Shore lawmakers the Bay Restoration Fund needs an additional $385 million to upgrade 67 sewage treatment plants in Maryland and echoed Gov. Martin O’Malley’s call to double the flush tax to $60 a year. [...more]

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Rural Marylanders support tighter regulations on septic systems and taxes for Bay clean-up, poll says

Rural Marylanders support tighter regulations on septic systems and taxes for Bay clean-up, poll says

January 20, 2012

A new poll found that 62% of rural respondents favored tighter regulations on septic systems, and 57% favored “limiting the number of septic systems in rural areas. ”The poll of 801 registered voters by Opinion Works in mid-December found statewide support was 72% for tighter septic regulations, and 69% for limiting the number septic systems in the state. [...more]

Environment, News Comments (8)

Flush tax to double, but delegates question use for other purposes

Flush tax to double, but delegates question use for other purposes

January 18, 2012

Doubling the flush tax to $60 a year is one of the revenue increases Gov. Martin O'Malley proposed Wednesday in his fiscal 2013 budget. Revenue from the tax goes into the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund to upgrade sewage treatment plants. Money from septic system users is also used to upgrade some of those systems and pay for cover crops. The new money is needed because the upgrades have cost more than originally estimated. [...more]

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New ways needed to use poultry waste, study says

New ways needed to use poultry waste, study says

December 29, 2011

Maryland’s poultry industry is worth more than $600 million annually – but produces enough waste to pile up to the top of nearly two football stadiums and create about 40% of the phosphorus that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay, according to a report released Wednesday by Environment Maryland. [...more]

Board of Public Works, Environment, News Comments (2)

O’Malley orders implementation of PlanMaryland as state policy

O’Malley orders implementation of PlanMaryland as state policy

December 20, 2011

Comments have been heard, changes have been incorporated, and now PlanMaryland is an official state policy. Gov. Martin O’Malley received the final draft of the planning document from Planning Secretary Richard Hall at a State House ceremony Monday morning. O’Malley issued an executive order declaring that the plan will now be recognized as the official state development plan. [...more]

Environment, News Comments (4)

Harsh audit of Department of Environment finds questionable septic grants, lack of inspections

Harsh audit of Department of Environment finds questionable septic grants, lack of inspections

December 2, 2011

Auditors found serious problems at the Maryland Department of the Environment, including questionable grants paid out of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, failure to do required safety screenings and construction site inspections and undisclosed computer system issues. [...more]

Audits and Accountability, Environment, News Comments (1)

PlanMaryland criticized, discussed at commissioners’ forum

PlanMaryland criticized, discussed at commissioners’ forum

October 31, 2011

Some of the deeper issues underlying PlanMaryland – like problems with the economic and environmental issues cited in the comprehensive state development plan proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley – took center stage at a forum sponsored by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners in Pikesville. [...more]

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