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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Department of Planning (MDP) are about to conclude a series of six regional workshops to discuss the new requirement to include a Water Resources Element (WRE) in local comprehensive plans. During the 2006 legislative session, the General Assembly enacted House Bill 1141 Land Use – Local Government Planning (HB 1141. This bill requires local jurisdictions to include their future plans for water supply, wastewater and stormwater in their comprehensive plans. Each jurisdiction must also include reasonable population projections in its planning documents. The first set of local comprehensive plans that address the requirements of HB 1141 must be submitted to the State by October 1, 2009. MDE will then have 60 days to review the WRE of each local comprehensive plan. If a local jurisdiction fails to submit its WRE, the State law mandates a freeze on all zoning changes in that jurisdiction.
MDE, DNR and MDP recently hosted workshops in Western Maryland, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland, the Lower Eastern Shore, and the Upper Eastern Shore to discuss the WRE requirements with local planners, engineers and elected officials. Attendance at some workshops reached over 100 highlighting the significant local interest in those new requirements.
In order to further assist local governments in preparing the WRE, MDE and MDP are planning an additional round of technical briefings at regional forums such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland in early 2008. These technical briefings are intended for the local personnel who are directly responsible for preparing the WRE. MDE is also planning to give presentations about the WRE requirements to citizen groups, such as the Tributary Strategy Teams. All interested citizens are encouraged to check MDE’s web site at www.mde.state.md.us for the schedule of presentations. For further information about HB 1141 and the Water Resources Element, please visit MDP’s web site at: www.mdp.state.md.us. This site contains a link to the Models and Guidelines publication for the Water Resources Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
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