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Global Warming and Septic System Bills Top the List of Victories

Annapolis – The 2009 Maryland General Assembly adjourned last night at midnight.  Overall it was a mixed bag for the environment, but advocates were pleased to see passage of several landmark environmental bills.

The biggest victory was the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act.  This bill requires the state to reduce its global warming pollution to 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020.  The bill directs the Maryland Department of the Environment to finalize regulations by 2012 to achieve those reductions.

Two important bills for the Chesapeake Bay were approved.  One bill requires any new septic system in homes along the shoreline of the bay to have state-of-the-art nitrogen removal technology. MDE will help residents pay for the costs of replacement systems.  Another bill gives citizen groups the right to challenge in court permits for development along the shoreline.

“The global warming bill is historic, and the septics bill will also help set national precedent,” said Environment Maryland State Director Brad Heavner.

The greatest disappointment was the failure of lawmakers to take major action on the issue of growth and development. The environmental community worked with Sen. David Harrington and Del. Steve Lafferty on a bill to set performance standards for local jurisdictions on growth and development. The bill would require counties to direct future development to priority growth areas, reduce miles driven, create affordable housing and economic development, and uphold water quality standards.

The General Assembly did approve two smaller smart growth bills. One clarifies the importance of local growth plans as legal documents, ensuring that development proposals are consistent with plans. Another helps local governments raise money for transit-oriented development.

“We need to get past the baby steps on smart growth and really take on the issue,” added Heavner.

Environmental programs took a hit in budget cuts, but legislators said no to the worst of the proposed cuts.  Funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy was reduced from $65 million to $30 million.  The Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund went from $31 million to $10 million, although legislators added $12 million for cover crops from another fund.

See the full list of Environment Maryland’s top legislative priorities.