Elrich Cautious on Ending Incineration in Montgomery
County News / Environment / Transportation and Public Works
Elrich Cautious on Ending Incineration in Montgomery

A Washington Post article (2019-05-09) showed the ongoing challenges counties face in disposing of trash. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has committed to closing down the County's trash incinerator but is moving slowly while the County figures out how to deal with the 1,800 tons of trash that is currently sent to the incinerator every day. The article stated that while an anti-incinerator group supports sending the trash to a landfill while the County works…

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May 16, 2019
Love Maryland? You’ve Got Company!
Economic Development / Education / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Public Safety and Corrections
Love Maryland? You’ve Got Company!

A recent US News & World Report study rates Maryland in the top tier of "best states." US News and World Report recently released its quantitative rankings for all 50 states -- with Maryland finished #6 in the ranking, with nearby Virginia just behind at #7. US News routinely offers their well-known rankings and reviews of colleges and universities, and has expanded to offering analysis of other fields as well. From US News coverage: The Best States…

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May 14, 2019
Howard Unveils Ellicott City Flood Mitigation Plan
County News / Emergency Management / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Howard Unveils Ellicott City Flood Mitigation Plan

Yesterday, as part of his Safe and Sound plan, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced his decision on a comprehensive flood mitigation plan for Ellicott City. Last month, Ball presented the five best options to address flooding and solicited public comment from residents, both online and at a community meeting. After careful consideration, County Executive Ball chose Option 3G.7.0. The plan includes a range of key projects, including a North Tunnel, that will decrease flood…

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May 14, 2019
Bay Journal Provides Overview of Each State’s Phase III WIP
Agriculture / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Bay Journal Provides Overview of Each State’s Phase III WIP

A Bay Journal article (2019-05-03) summarized the approaches each Chesapeake Bay watershed state is taking in its Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) in order to meet its nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment reduction goals under the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The Bay TMDL was established in 2010 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in response to litigation over the declining health of the Bay. The TMDL required all the states within the Bay watershed and…

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May 9, 2019
Federal District Court Orders EPA to Enforce Methane Reduction Requirements on Landfills
Environment / Government Liability and Courts / NACo and Federal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Federal District Court Orders EPA to Enforce Methane Reduction Requirements on Landfills

An article in The Hill (2019-05-07) reported that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must being enforcing mandatory methane-reduction requirements for landfills. The regulations, enacted under the former administration of President Barack Obama were put on hold pending a review under the administration of President Donald Trump. The case was brought by California and seven other states, including Maryland, after EPA…

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May 9, 2019
LOCAL Maryland Coalition Advancing Anti-Preemption Message
Business Affairs / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Government Liability and Courts / Intergovernmental Relations
LOCAL Maryland Coalition Advancing Anti-Preemption Message

A broad coalition of stakeholder groups are building momentum to fight together against state proposals to limit county and municipal authority to tailor policies locally. LOCAL Maryland has formed as a coalition of multiple stakeholders across many disciplines, with a common aim to prevent state intrusion into, and preemption of, local matters. The group includes organizations focusing on issues of public health, environmental protection, and economic justice. From the LOCAL Maryland website: OUR MISSION LOCAL…

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May 9, 2019
Preemption, PIA, and “Green Amendment” Hot Topics for Maryland Government Attorneys
County Budgets / County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Public Information and Ethics / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Preemption, PIA, and “Green Amendment” Hot Topics for Maryland Government Attorneys

The State and Local Government Section of the Maryland State Bar Association met to discuss the 2019 General Assembly Session and legislation of interest in their practice area. At a regular meeting of the Maryland State Bar Association's section for State and local government attorneys, the group heard a review of the 2019 Session from Delegates Marc Korman and Trent Kittleman, MACo's Research Director Robin Clark Eilenberg, the Maryland Municipal League's Government Relations Manager Bill…

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May 8, 2019
Maryland Appeals Court Holds No Local Preemption in Montgomery Pesticide Case
County News / Environment / Government Liability and Courts / Intergovernmental Relations
Maryland Appeals Court Holds No Local Preemption in Montgomery Pesticide Case

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals has rejected an argument that local governments are impliedly preempted from regulating the use of pesticides and upheld a Montgomery County pesticide regulation. The case is another in a of a string of decisions by the Maryland Courts that set the regulatory authority of local governments under the doctrine of implied preemption. There are two types of preemption – express and implied. Express preemption is where the General Assembly…

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May 3, 2019
Make Your Voice Heard: Listening Sessions for 2020 Forest Action Plan
MD Dept. of Natural Resources logo
Agriculture / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Make Your Voice Heard: Listening Sessions for 2020 Forest Action Plan

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology are hosting a series of six public listening sessions to solicit public input on the development of the Maryland Forest Service's 2020 Forest Action Plan. The Forest Action Plan guides funding and sets priorities for the Maryland Forest Service and its partners. The Plan is updated every 5-years. From an email notice (2019-05-01): The FAP assesses the current state of the…

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May 2, 2019
MOST Center Offers New Green Infrastructure Course
Environment / Transportation and Public Works
MOST Center Offers New Green Infrastructure Course

The Municipal Online Stormwater Training (MOST) Center announced a new online course for local governments on incorporating green infrastructure into capital planning. The MOST Center was created by a partnership between the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center and the Low Impact Development Center, Inc. and funded through a five-year National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant. MOST Center materials are available to local government officials online at no charge. From a MOST Center email announcement (2019-04-24):…

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May 2, 2019
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