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An updated draft of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan – the most detailed action plan yet for restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries – is available for public review and comment.
As part of this review process, MDE has scheduled a series of public informational meetings.
Maryland teamed with local governments and stakeholders to develop the draft Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan, or WIP. This plan builds on the Phase I plan by providing a more-detailed, county-level roadmap for how Maryland will achieve the “pollution diet” goals of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL. Sticking to this pollution diet will also restore water quality in Maryland streams, rivers and reservoirs, protect drinking water and public health, reduce flooding and create jobs.
Maryland’s counties submitted local strategies as part of the development of a preliminary draft of the Phase II WIP. In December, Maryland provided the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with that preliminary draft so they could confirm that the proposed strategies would meet the Bay TMDL goals. Based on results from EPA, updated draft documents are available for public review and comment from January 25, 2012 through March 9, 2012.
Comments on the draft Phase II WIP should be submitted in writing to the Maryland Department of the Environment no later than March 9, 2012 by email (preferred) to: WIP.COORDINATOR@maryland.gov or by post to: Tom Thornton, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard – Suite 540, Baltimore MD 21230-1718.
All comments received during the comment period will be considered as the State continues to refine the Phase II WIP for submittal to EPA on March 30, 2012. Comments will be consolidated and responses provided in a document that will be available on the MDE website. Local jurisdictions will also be able to refine their plans between March 30 and June 30.
A series of regional public informational meetings on the draft Phase II WIP will take place during the comment period. Formal comments will not be taken at the public meetings; rather, these meetings are to answer questions about the WIP.
Public Informational Meetings Schedule
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Monday, February 6 – 1:00–3:30 PM - Washington College, Chestertown
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Tuesday, February 7 – 6:30–9:00 PM - Videoconferencing from the 4H Center in College Park to the following sites: College of Southern Maryland, Frostburg University, and Salisbury University (Weather date: Wednesday, February 22)
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Wednesday, February 29 – 1:00–3:30 PM – Hagerstown Community College
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Thursday, March 1 – 6:30-9:00 PM – Baltimore Agricultural Center
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Monday, March 5 – 2:00–4:00 PM - MDE, Baltimore
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