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Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund, one of the most innovative, creative and results-oriented efforts in American government today was cited as one of the Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006.
According to the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, in cooperation with the Council for Excellence in Government selected Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund as an official semifinalist for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award. This award, often referred to as the “Oscars” of government prizes, is eligible to win one of seven $100,000 grants.
“The goal of my Bay Restoration Fund is simple: restore the Chesapeake Bay to its rightful status as a great national treasure - one that future generations of Marylanders can both enjoy and protect,” said Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. “Through the Bay Restoration Fund, we are funding projects that are an essential part of our long-standing effort toward achieving Maryland’s Chesapeake 2000 Agreement commitment to reduce the amount of nutrients being discharged to the Bay from our state by 19.5 million pounds per year.”
“We are honored by this recognition and pleased that the Bay Restoration Fund is generating significant interest around the country,” said Maryland Department of Environment Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick. “Once again Maryland sets the trend in environmental policy. Though individuals can quibble about dollars and cents, no one can doubt the invaluable role the Bay plays in this state.”
Advanced Water Treatment Technology
The fund, enacted by Maryland in 2004, is an environmental law that leads the Bay states in actions to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater treatment plant effluent. Under the Bay Restoration Fund, all public sewer service customers pay a fee of $2.50 per month while On-Site Disposal System (OSDS) or septic system users pay $30 annually. The fee paid by sewage treatment plant users provides the funding necessary to upgrade the state’s 66 largest sewage treatment plants to achieve Enhanced Nutrient Removal, which is the most advanced wastewater treatment technology available. The fee paid by OSDS users funds OSDS upgrades and implementation of cover crop plantings to reduce nitrogen loading to the Bay. The fund will result in a 7.5 million pound annual reduction in nitrogen and a 260,000-pound annual reduction in phosphorus loading to Chesapeake Bay. Excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, lead to degraded water quality, which negatively impacts the ecology of the Bay and its tributaries.
The Celanese facility in Allegany County has completed construction and is fully upgraded and achieving ENR treatment levels. Construction of enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) is underway at seven wastewater treatment plants, design at 12 others and planning for 29 more.
Government Innovations Award Criteria
The top 50 innovations, representing government at the federal, tribal, state, county and city levels, were selected for this criteria:
- Novelty and creativity
- Effectiveness at addressing significant issues and problems
- Ability to be replicated by other jurisdictions
Nominees represent the nation’s very best government efforts in the areas of education and training, criminal justice and public safety, economic and community development, housing, health and social services, management, transportation, public works and environment.
Eighteen finalists will be chosen from the 50 and announced on May 4 during Public Service Recognition Week. The National Selection Committee on Innovation in American Government will select five winners, in addition to two special awards: the Annie E. Casey Foundation Innovations Award for Children and Family Services, and the Fannie Mae Foundation Award for Innovation in Affordable Housing. All seven winners will be announced on July 10 in Washington, DC.
A list, description and contact information for the Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006, now in its 19th year, is available at www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu or www.excelgov.org. For more information about Maryland’s efforts to restore the Bay, visit
http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/BayRestorationFund
/Pages/Index.aspx.
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