Common Waters

Community Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

The Maryland Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee is having a meeting to discuss the Community Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) of 2009 [Senate Bill 824]. Citizen feedback is needed!

Date: March 18, 2009
Date: March 31, 2009 (Rescheduled)
Start Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Miller Senate Office Building, 2nd Floor, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Map

Description: Support the Community Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) of 2009. This bill is being spearheaded by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler. It will give Maryland’s citizens fair access to our justice system when our environmental laws are being violated. Currently, Maryland is among five states that do NOT grant these rights to its citizens. Expanded access to the justice system for citizens and groups to enforce their rights under environmental laws is essential to our ability to bring our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay back from the tipping point.

Attend the hearing and contact your legislators to let them know you support CEPA! You can find out who your elected representatives are here: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ .

See also:
House bill 1053: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb1053.htm

Senate bill 824: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0824.htm

Water Video Taps Into Funny Bone

I recently watched a slew of yawn-inducing videos on youtube that speak to protecting our waterways. The worst were the ones produced by state agencies, which made me feel like I was watching cement set. Here’s one from Canada that I liked. Keep in mind that the message they humorously portray applies to all waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay.

If you know of any entertaining and educational videos with water-related content, please pass the link(s) along.

Become a Maryland Stream Wader!

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers for their Stream Wader program to sample MD streams in the spring. The Stream Wader program has been in existence since 2000, and volunteers provide critical data that DNR uses to categorize and monitor the health of our waterways, as well as to help determine where to focus their restoration efforts.

In order to take part, you must first register for a one-day training session (February/March). During training you will learn basic stream sampling techniques while also learning about stream ecology, using GPS units, and much more. Sampling concludes in early May, or whenever you finish collecting your samples.

Sampling consists of collecting aquatic insects, crustaceans, and snails that live on the bottom of streams. Depending on the type of organisms that you find, you can tell whether a stream is healthy or polluted.

Registration dates are as follows. All sessions run from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
* Horn Point Environmental Science Education Center (Dorchester County: February 7th, 2009 (Register by January 30th)
* Patuxent River 4-H Center in Upper Marlboro (Prince Georges County): February 21st, 2009 (Register by February 13th)
* Fairview Outdoor Center in Clearspring (Washington County): February 28th, 2009 (Register by February 15th)
* West Nottingham Academy in Colora, MD (Cecil County): March 7th, 2009 (Register by February 27th)

This project is open to all. To register for a training session or to receive more information, email streamwaders@dnr.state.md.us or call the Stream Waders hotline at 1-877-620-8DNR (x8623). Please provide your name, contact information, and expected training location.

A very informative Frequently Asked Questions page can be found at:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/mbss/w_faq.html.

Your involvement will make a difference in improving the health and quality of the streams in Maryland!

New Recycling Rules for Baltimore City

[The following is from the Baltimore Department of Public Works website:
http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/dpw/recycle/newsflash.php]

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Effective January 2009, Baltimore City residents will be able to recycle MORE items. So fill up a recycle bin or two or MORE! Remember, if we all do our part, one person at a time and one home at a time; together as a City we can make a difference. Do your best to recycle and not trash the below material. Working together, we can minimize the damaging affects to our natural environment and the amount of energy needed to produce new products (everyday household items) from raw natural materials versus producing new products from recycled material.

Acceptable Recycling Material
· Clean paper - all colors and types. This includes catalogs, magazines, junk mail, newspapers and non-metallic wrapping paper.
· Cardboard and paperboard boxes (including cereal boxes without liners and frozen food packaging)
· Books (including paperbacks, textbooks and hardbacks)
· Aerosol Cans (empty)
· Glass containers such as jars and bottles
· Metal food and beverage containers
· Narrow-neck plastic containers (other than for motor oil) which carry codes 1 through 7 on the bottom.

NEW (to be included in your curbside single stream recycling bin—January 2009)
· Wide-mouth plastic containers used for margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream
· Empty prescription bottles (lids and caps do not need to be removed)
· Plastic drinking cups
· Aluminum foil and aluminum pie pans
· Clean milk and juice cartons

NEW (to be taken to the citizen drop-off center and placed in container marked “rigid plastics”—January 2009)
Rigid plastics include:
· milk/soda crates
· buckets
· laundry baskets
· lawn furniture
· totes
· plastic drums
· coolers
· flower pots
· water bottles
· pallets
· pet carriers
· shelving
· closet organizers
· empty garbage/recycling bins

For citizen drop-off locations, see:
http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/dpw/recycle/dropOff.php

Baltimore’s Sustainability Plan Nearing Completion

Baltimore’s Office of Sustainability is nearing completion on a final draft of their sustainability plan. Eight key themes are emerging. If you had to pick three, which would be the most important areas to focus on?

• energy/water conservation

• pollution prevention (air/water)

• trash/litter

• transportation

• economic development

• education and awareness

• Baltimore’s uniqueness (historical/cultural preservation)

Do you believe Baltimore can become “the Silicon Valley of sustainability,” as one participant suggested at last month’s public forum? To me, this involves the monumental task of creating a green ethic. I am an optimist, however, and while I see substantial challenges to that charge, I am game to help that goal along. It will take all of us, however, helping and educating each other, working to make a difference in our city.

It is my understanding that the public has until December 3, 2008 to comment on the mayor’s sustainability plan. At that time the commission will present their draft plan (see event calendar at right for details). It is unclear if they are presenting the final draft, or if there will be an additional period for public comment. You can learn more by visiting the Office of Sustainability website.

Baltimore, it’s your city! Get involved today!