Good news! The Sediment and Erosion Reporting Act (House Bill 703) has passed the House and Senate. We now need Governor Hogan to sign it. Send an email urging him to sign this important bill that will allow for better annual reporting and, ultimately, enforcement on stormwater pollution related to construction activities.
Stormwater runoff remains the fastest growing source of pollution to our local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. The largest component of stormwater runoff pollution is dirt. There are laws on the books to regulate polluted runoff, but the question is whether or not they are being enforced. South Riverkeeper Jesse Iliff has been working on the Sediment and Erosion Reporting Act (House Bill 703) that would require the 23 jurisdictions in Maryland that enforce their own sediment and erosion control laws to report on those efforts and bring some sunshine to a process that many members of the public know next to nothing about. A report last year shows that current enforcement efforts of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) are lacking.
The Sediment and Erosion Reporting Act (House Bill 703) would allow for better annual reporting and, ultimately, enforcement on stormwater pollution related to construction activities. The Act would require local counties and municipalities to report annually the quantity, nature, and amount of fines assessed for any violations related to our sediment and erosion control laws to MDE. The Act would also allow for increased transparency by requiring the reported information to be posted on MDE’s website.
Better reporting and increased public transparency will provide for better accountability and, as a result, cleaner waterways. The Act has passed the House and Senate and just needs the Governor to sign it. Use the form below to send an email today!
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