BALTIMORE, MD (October 2, 2003) --Maryland residents will have a chance to offer input on the best ways to address community environmental concerns at a series of public meetings starting next week.

The Governor’s Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities (CEJSC) in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) invite the public to attend four public dialogue sessions on environmental equity issues. The first will be held Oct. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Murphy Fine Arts Center, at 2201 Argonne Drive, on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore.

“The purpose of the sessions is to provide a forum for citizens, community organizations, non-governmental groups and local leaders to offer advice and direction to government concerning how best to address environmental concerns in their neighborhood and stimulate revitalization,” said MDE Acting Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick.

The second session will be Oct. 22 in Cumberland City Hall, located at 57 N. Liberty St., from 6 to 8 p.m.

On Nov. 5, the public dialogue session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Prince George’s Ballroom, located at 2411 Pinebrook Ave., in Landover.

On Nov. 12, the dialogue moves to the Talbot Community Center, located at 1028 Ocean Gateway, in Easton from 6 to 8 p.m.

Environmental justice concerns specific to each of the regions, and their remedies, will be part of the public dialogue sessions. The dialogues will also be used to gather feedback on several recommendations made by MDE and CEJSC.

“From dialogues, the CEJSC and MDE hope to discuss critical environmental issues facing local communities, identify best practices for addressing those issues and incorporate solutions to those issues into government decision?making,” said Andrew Sawyers, MDE’s Community Planner and Environmental Justice Coordinator.

All citizens are encouraged to participate in these public meetings. Comments and suggestions on agenda items for the sessions will also be considered.

Funding for the forums is provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Additional information can be found on MDE’s website at: mde.maryland.gov/programs/CrossMedia/EnvironmentalJustice/Pages/cejsc.aspx. For more information or to RSVP, contact Jalonne White at (410) 537-4017 or via email at: jwhite@mde.state.md.us.

###​