MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler testified to oppose HB 1128 – Environment – Water Quality Certifications – Requests (Water Quality Certification Improvement Act). The bill would complicate a certification process for water quality, grant unprecedented legal standing to entities without a direct effect, and ultimately would significantly increase project costs for local governments. MACo understands the bill’s sponsor intends to offer amendments that would help address some of the concerns raised.

From the MACo Testimony:

Under the proposed language in HB 1128, legal standing to challenge water quality certifications would be greatly expanded to entities in the State even if they cannot demonstrate a direct adverse effect. This would upend established legal standing in the State and subject certification requestors to increased, and frequently prolonged, litigation.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2020 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.