Tag: septic systems

Two dozen delegates seek repeal of septic system limits

Residents of the Eastern Shore and other parts of rural Maryland are up in arms to defend their land rights which they believe are under threat as a result of last year’s environmental legislation commonly referred to as the Septic Bill.

Dozens of farmers and Maryland-natives rallied behind Del. Michael McDermott, R-Worcester, at a hearing Wednesday in the House Environmental Matters Committee on McDermott’s proposal to repeal the controversial bill.

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New septic system requirements fire up opponents at hearing

More than two dozen witnesses testified before a joint legislative committee Tuesday on proposed regulation for upgraded septic systems across the state, most of them opposing the rule change. State Department of the Environment officials who wrote the regulations –– the only proponents aside from environmentalists –– told the Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review joint committee that applying best available septic technology statewide is the way to reduce nutrient sediment load in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Septic control bill passes Senate

The Senate passed an O’Malley administration bill to increase control over septic systems for new developments in a 32-14 vote, with all 12 Republicans opposing a bill they called a move to centralized planning.

“This bill clearly is a down-zoning,” said Sen. Barry Glassman, who lives on a farm in Harford County. It will cause farms to lose 30-40% of the value of their land, he said.

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O’Malley administration waters down septic control bill in order to save it

A series of nine amendments to the O’Malley administration’s septic bill cleared the Senate Friday evening, preserving longstanding control of septic use by local planning authorities. The administration worked on the deal with the Maryland Association of Counties, farmers, developers and builders to salvage passage of the controversial measure. Liberal Democrats opposed the compromise.

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Controversial septic system controls headed for heavy Senate debate

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s controversial bill to control septic systems was brought to the Senate floor Tuesday, with opponents planning to offer a series of amendments.

The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee approved the 33-page legislation Friday on a 7-4 vote, with Sen. Ed Reilly, R-Anne Arundel, calling it a move to “centralized planning.”

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

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.

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Blog: O’Malley continues to press for septic system restrictions

Gov. Martin O’Malley continues to press for septic system restrictions, despite continuing opposition from rural areas and the suggestion from the House committee chair that he first create a task force to study the idea.

O’Malley personally testified on his bill to House and Senate committees Friday, and he has already suggested amendments to the legislation to make it more palatable to the farm community.

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Eastern Shore legislators mount opposition to septic tank restrictions

As far as some rural lawmakers are concerned, the proposed new limits on septic systems for homebuilding backed by Gov. Martin O’Malley and environmentalists are part of a “war on rural Maryland,” as a new website describes it.

“This is about a power grab, this is not about the environment,” said Senate Republican Whip E.J. Pipkin, from the four Upper Shore Counties, who launched the fledgling website with Del. Michael Smigiel, R-Upper Shore.

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Eastern Shore legislators say “inflexible” Environment Department hurting job growth

Lawmakers from the Eastern Shore clashed with the Secretary of the Environment Shari Wilson on Friday, calling her agency “inflexible” and a hindrance to job growth in farming and other industries in their area.

At a joint Eastern Shore delegation meeting with Wilson and Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, the senators and delegates said environmental regulations on chicken houses, stormwater and septic systems are slowing down or halting projects in their counties.

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