In 2018, ACT’s continued efforts to protect clean water, clean air and healthy communities has involved our Assateague COASTKEEPER in several important actions. Routine Coastkeeper boat water patrols and 'compliance sweeps' of permitted activities in 2018 will continue to assure our waterways are being protected.
Maryland’s Public Information Act has been used in several instances to gather information on file with state agencies related to clean water permits either recently approved or currently working their way through the approval process. These files were needed so that ACT could submit informed and well researched Public Comment addressing concerns that conditions of these permits are deficient and not protective of our waterways.
Maryland’s Public Information Act has been used in several instances to gather information on file with state agencies related to clean water permits either recently approved or currently working their way through the approval process. These files were needed so that ACT could submit informed and well researched Public Comment addressing concerns that conditions of these permits are deficient and not protective of our waterways.
Pollution from industrial scale large Animal Feeding Operations is a continuing source of nutrient and sediment pollution to our bays and creeks.
On May 30, 2018 an Administrative Law Judge decided in favor of a challenge brought by Environmental Action Center (EAC), Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT), and Paul & Mary Lou Bishop of Berlin, MD, reversing a permit approval for a proposed concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) on Purnell Crossing Road in Worcester County, MD because of inadequate environmental protection.
The Administrative Law Judge ruled against MDE and found that approval of the CAFO was “legally inconsistent” with environmental protection requirements. The Judge definitively stated that MDE may not authorize windrowing as an alternative to manure storage – a practice that MDE has routinely offered to proposed CAFO sites.
Read more here.
On May 30, 2018 an Administrative Law Judge decided in favor of a challenge brought by Environmental Action Center (EAC), Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT), and Paul & Mary Lou Bishop of Berlin, MD, reversing a permit approval for a proposed concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) on Purnell Crossing Road in Worcester County, MD because of inadequate environmental protection.
The Administrative Law Judge ruled against MDE and found that approval of the CAFO was “legally inconsistent” with environmental protection requirements. The Judge definitively stated that MDE may not authorize windrowing as an alternative to manure storage – a practice that MDE has routinely offered to proposed CAFO sites.
Read more here.
Shoreline home construction in the GlenRiddle development on Herring Creek has been encroaching into the Critical Area buffers and ACT has raised concerns with Worcester County and MD Department of Environment agencies about the loss of these important buffers that protect water quality in a creek that is on the ‘impaired waters’ list of the EPA. We are pursuing this investigation to determine if violations have been properly mitigated.
Wetlands are under threat from an industrial agriculture project proposed to fill those wetlands in the Nassawango Creek watershed in Worcester County. Our inquiry found that certain processes required before a permit is issued had not been completed. As a result, the applicant must now resubmit the application with a site plan that will either avoid or at best minimize its impact on these wetlands, and must also adjust the stormwater management plans to avoid impact to the wetlands on the parcel. UPDATE: US Army Corps of Engineers continues to monitor this project and to date (6/2018) still has not issued an approved permit to fill these wetlands and mitigate elsewhere.
|
As a result of our Coastkeeper’s persistent actions to correct improper and deficient construction site pollution prevention activities, the Town of Ocean City has at last adopted new construction permits that require contractors working with Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) to prevent all Styrofoam debris from leaving the construction site. After years of styrofoam ‘snow’ littering our waterways, streets and beach dunes, this non-degradable plastic pollution must now be controlled by the contractor through use of netting, vacuuming and more diligent clean up procedures.
Your support of ACT is greatly appreciated and enables us to continue to advocate for the improvement of, and enforcement of, environmental regulations that protect our water quality and the quality of life in our local communities. |
|
