The Baltimore Sun reports that the Howard County Soil Conservation District, in a move that appears to challenge the County’s authority to set fees, has approved its own fees for the review of soil erosion and sediment control plans.

Fees of $80 per disturbed acre for review of soil erosion and sediment control plans were recently approved by the County Council, but the soil district sent builders a letter last week declaring they will begin charging $290 an acre instead, starting July 26.