What Can I Do?
Buy Only Local Firewood
Supporting local farms and businesses can save transportation cost, but there is an additional reason to buy local when it comes to firewood. The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle from overseas that kills ash trees. The beetle has been seen in Maryland, and no firewood is allowed to be shipped out of Prince George's or Charles Counties to prevent the beetle's spread. So if you buy firewood this winter, ask where the wood comes from and buy only local firewood. Read more. |
Bay Fact
The Chesapeake Bay supports 348 species of finfish, 173 species of shellfish, and over 2,700 plant species. The Bay is also home to 29 species of waterfowl and is a major resting ground along the Atlantic Flyway. Every year, one million waterfowl winter in the Bay region. | |
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
Governor O'Malley tours the Coca Cola Bottling Plant in Baltimore, a Green Registry Member.
Last fall we launched the Maryland Green Registry, a new program to promote and recognize sustainable "greening" efforts by organizations of all types and sizes in Maryland. With the help of the Maryland Department of the Environment, I am encouraging Maryland businesses, churches, schools, government agencies and other organizations to join and share the steps they've taken to reduce their environmental footprint.
To become a member, visit the Maryland Green Registry website, which can be accessed from the Smart Green & Growing homepage www.green.maryland.gov. The website has tips and resources for best practices in the areas of environmental management and leadership, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, transportation and green building design. These include examples of activities that can be included in your organization's profile, as well as inspiration and ideas for future efforts.
Joining the Maryland Green Registry is free. Simply fill out a profile with information on a least five environmental practices that your organization has in place and share a measureable result for at least one of those practices.
Members receive a Maryland Green Registry window decal for display, use of the Maryland Green Registry logo, and free technical and informational assistance. The profile you create is also posted online to demonstrate your environmental commitment and to inspire others to green their organizations.
This Maryland Green Registry is an important part of our efforts to create a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for Maryland families and our treasured Chesapeake Bay. Given your support for these efforts, I hope that you will help us promote this important stewardship program.
Sincerely,
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EPA Administrator Voted Chair of Chesapeake Executive Council
 EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson was voted chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council at a special meeting on January 5 in Arlington, VA promising to continue the positive momentum of the Chesapeake Bay Program and lead the regional partnership into a new era of progress and accountability. "I am honored to be chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council and to bring the full weight of this partnership to bear on restoring and protecting the national treasure that is the Chesapeake Bay," Administrator Jackson said.
Governor Martin O'Malley and others took the opportunity to also praise outgoing chair, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, for his extraordinary leadership on the council and partnership with Maryland.
"The health of our Chesapeake Bay is critical to the environmental and economic future of the states that surround it and the people who enjoy it, and these regional partnerships - particularly between Maryland and Virginia under Governor Kaine's leadership - have been invaluable to these efforts," said Governor O'Malley. "Adding to these efforts the passion, partnership and authority of EPA Administrator Jackson will guide us through a new era of progress and accountability." Read more. |
BayStat Team Meeting Update
At December's BayStat meeting, participants viewed the Conservation Tracker Database project, which the Maryland Department of Agriculture will use to track geographic implementation of agricultural best practices, and use that information to involve farmers effectively in future efforts. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) provided a status report on Blue Plains and the other wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and identified issues that may prevent achievement. MDE also reported on the feasibility of connecting septic systems in targeted watersheds with high septic loads (e.g., Magothy, Severn and South Rivers) to wastewater treatment plants, including criteria for determining where such connections would be cost effective and what could be done to ensure that sprawl growth does not result.
The team also discussed our continued partnership with federal agencies and Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski to craft a strategy that will work to accelerate recovery of the Chesapeake Bay. Comments on the draft strategy proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency are due in early January. |
Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
Septic Upgrade Priorities Changing
In response to high homeowner demand for septic upgrade grants, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has announced it will begin prioritizing funding for septic system upgrades toward those systems that pose the greatest threat to clean waterways and drinking water. Nitrogen is the most serious pollutant in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland waterways. A typical septic system does not remove nitrogen, instead delivering about 30 pounds of nitrogen per year to the groundwater. An upgraded, nitrogen-removing septic system cuts a system's nitrogen output in half. Click here for more details. |
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Easement Protects Eastern Shore Land
The Maryland Environmental Trust has received its largest easement ever, that will protect 2,894 acres of land in Kent County. Donated by Mrs. Louisa Duemling, the easement will protect approximately 1,087 acres of forest, 1,692 acres of tilled land and 50 acres of freshwater ponds. The easement will also preserve a 200-foot vegetative buffer strip along 9.2 miles of the Chesapeake Bay and local water bodies, protecting water quality and riparian wildlife habitat. More details... |
 Maryland Participates in Mid-Atlantic Ocean Summit
In early December Maryland representatives participated in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean summit that brought together nongovernmental organizations, academia, industry, citizens and state and federal governments. Governors of the Mid-Atlantic states have committed to collaborate in addressing water quality, climate change, offshore energy and habitat protection. Read more. |
State Inspecting Marine Sewage Pumpout Stations
 Maryland law requires marinas with 50 or more slips, as well as new or expanding marinas, to have an operable pumpout facility available during reasonable times. Approximately 350 of the state's 600+ marinas have state and/or federally funded pumpouts, which are used to empty both vessel holding tanks and portable toilets for recreational and light commercial boats. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is inspecting all grant-funded marine sewage pumpout facilities in Maryland to be sure they work properly. Click for more. |
Governors Urge Support for No Child Left Inside
Fifteen governors from as far away as the Virgin Islands joined Governor Martin O'Malley in asking U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to include No Child Left Inside initiatives in federal school policy, and to support funding for states to expand environmental education in public schools. "We have worked hard to ensure that children of hard-working Maryland families will experience and learn about their natural world through Maryland's Partnership for Children in Nature," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "I am now pleased to have other Governors stand with me to ensure children across the country enjoy the same opportunities." Read more. |
Maryland Recycles Empty Pesticide Containers
 The Maryland Department of Agriculture collected 49,000 empty pesticide containers, weighing 21.6 tons, during 2009. The containers are collected, chipped, processed and remanufactured into new pesticide containers by a contractor hired by the pesticide manufacturing industry. This recycling program helps to protect the Chesapeake Bay by removing potential contaminants from the environment through proper disposal. More information. |
New Procedures Take Effect for MDE Permits
Legislation passed by the 2009 General Assembly changes procedures for major permits issued by MDE. The new procedures apply to applications for most permits that affect State waters or wetlands. Appeals from MDE permit decisions will now be heard in Circuit Court instead of at an administrative hearing, and public disclosure and comment provisions are improved. The new procedures took effect on January 1, 2010. Click for more details.
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Local Governments Updating Stormwater Management Rules
When it rains, stormwater flowing across the land carries pollution into streams and the Chesapeake Bay. The General Assembly passed the Stormwater Management Act of 2007 to require local governments to reduce stormwater runoff by using new environmental site design techniques. To implement the new law, MDE revised its Stormwater Design Manual and issued new regulations and guidance materials. Now each county and municipality must update its local laws by May 4, 2010 to require the new pollution-saving designs. Learn more. |
Maryland Game Bird Stamp Design Contest Underway
 DNR invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 36th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest. Hunters of migratory game birds are required to purchase the stamps, commonly called "duck stamps." Proceeds from the sale of the stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as research. Deadline for entries from artists for the design of the 2010-2011 stamp is March 22, 2010. More details. | |
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