Don’t Let Your Project Go Down the Drain – Reforming Stormwater Restoration Permitting

Learn how MACo, counties, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments are collaborating with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to address the State’s stormwater restoration project permitting challenges at the 2015 MACo December Winter Conference. As previously reported on Conduit Street, MDE has agreed to helpful permit reforms that will allow counties and other parties to implement restoration projects more efficiently and quickly.

Description

Stormwater restoration projects are often inherently difficult from both an engineering and cost perspective. Add to that a relatively small contractor pool; frustrating permit process; and for some counties, challenging federal permit goals. To address these issues, MACo and county stakeholders have been working with the MDE to make sensible reforms to its permitting process. Panelists will discuss the general challenges posed by stormwater restoration projects, identify specific problems with MDE’s current permitting system, and highlight positive reforms that MDE is undertaking based on county feedback.

Speakers

  • Lynn Buhl, Director, Water Management Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment
  • Erik Michelsen, Administrator, Watershed Protection & Restoration Program, Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works
  • Karl Berger, Principal Environmental Planner, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Moderator: The Honorable Marvin Holmes, Jr., Maryland House of Delegates

Date & Time: Thursday, December 10, 2015, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:

Questions? Contact Meetings & Events Director Virginia White.