The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has resumed meetings of its Cumulative Impact Workgroup, which will make recommendations on how to address the cumulative air pollution impacts caused by the geographic concentration of structures requiring an MDE air permit. The workgroup was formed in response to legislation introduced in the General Assembly during the 2014 and 2015 legislative sessions that sought to address cumulative impact concerns. MACo Legal and Policy Counsel Les Knapp and Jim Hubbard from the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment are workgroup members but any interested county official can attend meetings.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the workgroup held a series of pre-meetings earlier this year to solidify an agenda. At its first official meeting on September 9, 2015, the workgroup agreed to address three suggested topics: (1) which permitted facilities raise the most cumulative impact and environmental justice concerns; (2) what indicators are appropriate to identify at-risk communities; and (3) what process changes should be made to address the concerns of at-risk communities.
For additional information please contact Les Knapp at 410.269.0043 or lknapp@mdcounties.org.
