{"id":4714,"date":"2020-01-14T11:51:54","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T16:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waterkeeperschesapeake.org\/?p=4714"},"modified":"2020-05-04T14:50:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-04T18:50:12","slug":"wkc-2020-legislative-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waterkeeperschesapeake.org\/es\/wkc-2020-legislative-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuestras prioridades legislativas de agua limpia para 2020 en Maryland, Virginia y Pensilvania"},"content":{"rendered":"

The General Assembly sessions in Maryland and Virginia started on January 8<\/span>th<\/span> with much excitement and optimism for passing strong bills to protect our water and environment. Waterkeepers Chesapeake has identified priority legislation in each state. We will be asking for your help to get these bills passed so stay tuned for news on how you can take action. [We\u2019ll add bill numbers as we get them.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryland<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Maryland Healthy Green Amendment<\/b><\/a>: Our first priority isn\u2019t a bill but a constitutional amendment. Getting this approved is more complicated than passing a bill. A Maryland Healthy Green Amendment would guarantee the right to clean air, pure water, a stable climate, and a healthy environment for all Marylanders.\u00a0<\/span>The Amendment would clarify the responsibility of state government to protect Marylanders, while empowering Marylanders, local communities and the state to enforce these rights. The Amendment would shore up gaps in existing laws, strengthen enforcement and compliance, and assure that everyone, no matter what zip code they live in, are equally protected from environmental degradation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Constitutional amendments require 2\/3rds vote in the General Assembly and a successful ballot initiative in the 2022 election cycle. <\/span>Will you help us pass a Healthy Environment Amendment in Maryland? <\/b>Sign up today!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Water Quality Certification Improvement:<\/b> The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has <\/span>proposed a rule that strips authority away from states<\/span><\/a> and tribes to fully protect their local streams and rivers from major projects, like pipelines, dams and fossil fuel export terminals<\/span>.<\/b> It is more important than ever for states to claim their authority under the Clean Water Act\u2019s Section 401 to prevent federally-licensed projects from negatively impacting their local water resources. This bill aims to improve the 401 water quality certification process in Maryland and bolster Maryland\u2019s ability to look at all factors related to water quality impacts, such as climate change, when reviewing and deciding on individual water quality certifications. In addition, we are exploring <\/span>an emergency bill that would prohibit Maryland from waiving its 401 authority related to the <\/span>Conowingo Dam.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Enforcement: <\/b>This bill would increase transparency and encourage more efficiency for environmental complaints in Maryland. More specifically, the bill would create an Ombudsman in the Attorney General\u2019s office to receive, process, and keep a record of each complaint that involves environmental or natural resources violations, and create a website to make this information public.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zombie Permits: <\/b>Under the Clean Water Act, water pollution discharge permits are issued for five-year periods. However, as long as a discharger submits a timely application to the state for renewal, the old permit stays in place and is considered \u201cadministratively extended\u201d indefinitely. We call these Zombie Permits. The failure of state agencies to renew permits prevents dischargers from meeting new water quality goals and updated science. This bill will require state agencies to conduct an internal review, create standards and criteria for permit review, set a deadline for permit decisions, and determine what immediate recourse will be taken when that deadline passes. Additionally, the bill would require all this information to be put out for public review and comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair Farms Campaign priorities<\/b>: Our Fair Farms campaign will be working on bills on good food procurement, composting, healthy soils incentives, a <\/span>Chlorpyrifos ban, and other bills. <\/span>Check this page for updates.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Virginia<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/b>On December 11, 2019, Governor Northam announced his biennial budget that includes record-breaking funding for protecting our natural resources:<\/span><\/p>\n