BALTIMORE, MD (January 10, 2003) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will hold a public hearing on the proposed regulations for the Community Right-To-Know Fund (CRTK Fund) at 10 a.m. Monday, January 13 at its Montgomery Park Business Center offices, located at 1800 Washington Boulevard in Baltimore.

The Maryland General Assembly established the CRTK Fund during the 2002 legislative session to help support the collection and availability of information on the storage of hazardous chemicals in the state and to aid local and state emergency responders. The fund authorizes MDE to collect fees from facilities that are already required to submit reports to the department under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Fifty percent of the money collected will be distributed to the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) throughout the state.

The information is to be used by agencies in planning for potential chemical incidents involving the reported stored chemicals. Additionally, certain facility data is made available to the public so citizens can be aware of potential hazards in their community.

No additional facilities will be required to provide information to MDE or the LEPCs as a result of the regulations. Only those facilities covered by the federal reporting requirements will be subject to the fees established by CRTK Fund.

The proposed regulations for the CRTK Fund were published in the December 27, 2002 edition of the Maryland Register. Copies of the Maryland Register can be obtained from the Division of State Documents by calling (410) 974-2486 or (800) 633-9657 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Maryland Register can also be accessed online at: http://www.dsd.state.md.us.

Written comments on the proposed regulation will be accepted until close of business Monday, January 26, 2003. Comments can be mailed to: MDE-TARSA, Community Right-To-Know Section, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Ste 540, Baltimore, MD 21230-1718: Attention: Patricia Williams; faxed to (410) 537-3873; or e-mailed to: Patricia.Williams1@maryland.gov.

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