ANNAPOLIS – Some Maryland legislators hope to recycle some of last year’s failed pieces of environmental legislation when the General Assembly convenes next month — particularly measures to protect state waters.
Since court cases weakened existing laws providing a 100-foot buffer area around the Chesapeake Bay from development, Gov. Parris N. Glendening has made it clear he wants to rework that law and extend the same protection to coastal bays.
Lawmakers tried to tighten up the original 1984 law in the 2001 session, but failed.
Although the bill may be controversial, many legislators support reworking the law, but acknowledge passage will be difficult.
“If we want to really preserve the bay then we need to take on the issue of what the language of the law really means,” said Delegate James Hubbard, D- Prince George’s. That means, he said, closing the loopholes created by the courts.
Limiting development of areas closer to the Bay will help control nutrient run-off, which is a big problem for the Bay, said Theresa Pierno, Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
“The hope is to basically return to the intention of the law, she said, by putting in language that makes everything clear.
Extending the same protection to the coastal bays is just as important to keep the water and land around it healthy, Pierno said.
“The issue is really how rapidly things are developing out there,” said Delegate John Hurson, D-Montgomery, referring to the development along the coastal bays on the Eastern Shore.
Although the legislation was controversial last year and will probably be again this year, Hurson said he is confident it will pass.
“I don’t know what the debate will be like but my senses tell me there will be enough votes to pass this on to a committee,” he said.
Legislators also plan to introduce a bill to protect the Savage River forest in Western Maryland and classify it as wildland, a designation offering more protection from logging than its current one as a state forest.
Western Maryland lawmakers will try to rein in the burgeoning black bear population with hunting bill.
“The black bear population is way out of control in Western Maryland,” said Hurson. “It’s a serious problem.”
Western Marylanders now may only shoot bears if they threaten someone’s life or livestock. Proposed legislation would call for a black bear hunting season, with applicants issued licenses through a lottery.
The CBF and Maryland Public Interest Research Group, or MaryPIRG, also are lobbying hard for increased funding to raise penalty fees for violating pollution laws and for more staff to enforce those laws.
“Funding for personnel is staffed through the Maryland Department of the Environment,” Pierno said. “If those fees aren’t sufficient you can’t hire personnel. The dollars raised through these increased fees would improve enforcement.”
Overall, legislators, including Delegate Sue Hecht, D-Frederick, agree this is going to be a tight budget year and some programs may not be funded as generously this year: “This is obviously going to be the most challenging budget that I have had to deal with since I have been elected.”
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