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The Maryland Water Quality Trading Advisory Committee acts as an ongoing consultative group to provide direction to the overall trading program and to oversee further enhancement of the trading infrastructure. Its first task will be to review and refine a comprehensive Maryland Trading Manual document. A series of four initial meetings is anticipated, with the goal of finalizing a manual document and identifying other necessary actions in the Spring of 2016.
In recent years, Maryland Water Quality Trading has emerged as a promising strategy for bringing cost-effectiveness and market- driven efficiency to the achievement of nutrient reduction goals. Trading is an important element of Maryland’s approach for restoring the Bay by creating opportunities for the sectors facing the highest costs to meet a portion of their responsibilities by purchasing offsets or credits created by other sources.
The path forward on nutrient trading includes the issuance, with input from the Maryland Water Quality Trading Advisory Committee (WQTAC), of a policy manual and guidelines that would be used to initiate trades within Maryland. It also includes the adoption of regulations proposed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture establishing the requirements and standards for the generation, verification and certification of nutrient and sediment credits on agricultural lands.
The new trading program will provide expanded opportunities for all point and nonpoint sources by giving them access to the water quality marketplace and flexibility in meeting and maintaining their load limits by acquiring credits and/or offsets generated from load reductions elsewhere.
In October, the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Agriculture released the Maryland Water Quality Nutrient Trading Policy Statement in announcing that Maryland is pursuing new tools for faster, better restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The Policy Statement is a road map for the development of crosssector, water quality trading programs that use innovation, economies of scale and publicprivate partnerships to speed improvements to the Bay and local rivers and streams.
Maryland Water Quality Nutrient Trading Policy Statement
Maryland’s new comprehensive Draft Water Quality Trading Manual builds on the significant work of the Maryland Departments of the Environment (MDE) and Agriculture (MDA) with input of the stakeholder groups and committees to develop both point and nonpoint source trading policies and guidelines for the generation and acquisition of water quality credits. This new phase of the trading program and the draft manual, once adopted, will provide the framework for local governments and State and federal agencies with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems permits (commonly known as MS4 permits) to engage in trading. The 2017 Draft Trading Manual describes policies and provides guidance to ensure transparency and accountability of all water quality credit exchanges.
Draft Maryland Trading and Offset Policy and Guidance Manual Chesapeake Bay Watershed (April 2017)
Draft Maryland Trading and Offset Policy and Guidance Manual Chesapeake Bay Watershed (September 2016)
Draft Maryland Trading and Offset Policy and Guidance Manual Chesapeake Bay Watershed (January 2016)
Anne Arundel County - 1/8/2018
Blue Water Baltimore - 1/8/2018
Carroll County - 1/8/2018
Chesapeake Bay Foundation - 1/8/2018
Chesapeake Conservancy - 1/8/2018
Clean Chesapeake Coalition - 1/8/2018
Environmental Protection Agency - 1/23/2018
Food & Water Watch and Patuxent Riverkeeper - 1/8/2018
Frederick County - 1/5/2018
Howard County - 1/8/2018
MAMWA - 1/8/2018
Maryland Building Industry Association - 1/8/2018
Maryland Clean Agriculture Coalition - 1/8/2018
Maryland Clean Agriculture Coalition - Attachment A
Maryland Conservation Council - 1/8/2018
Maryland Department of Agriculture - 12/18/2017
Maryland Division - Izaak Walton League of America - 1/8/2018
Maryland Industrial Technology Alliance - Gordon FeinBlatt LLC - 1/8/2018
Maryland League of Conservation Voters - 12/18/2017
Maryland Municipal Stormwater Association - 1/8/2018
NAIOP - 1/8/2018
National Milk Producers Federation - 1/5/2018
National Parks Conservation Association - 1/8/2018
National Parks Conservation Association - Attachment A
Patuxent River Commission - 12/13/2017
Potomac Riverkeeper Network - 1/8/2018
Potomac Riverkeeper Network - Attachment A
Resource Environmental Solutions - 1/8/2018
St. Mary's River Watershed Association - 1/8/2018
Trout Headwaters, Inc - 12/18/2017
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission - 1/8/2018
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay - 07/17/2017
Anne Arundel County - 07/14/2017
Choose Clean Water Coalition - 07/01/2017
Chesapeake Bay Foundation - 07/07/2017
Chesapeake Bay Commission - 06/29/2017
Clean Agriculture Coalition - 12/15/2015
Department of Agriculture - 07/06/2017
Department of Planning - 06/28/2017
Environmental Protection Agency - 07/07/2017
Gordon Feinblatt - 07/07/2017
Maryland Building Industry Association - 07/07/2017
Maryland Clean Agriculture Coalition - 07/07/2017
Montgomery County - 07/10/2017
NAIOP Maryland Chapters - 07/07/2017
Resource Environmental Solutions - 07/07/2017
Stakeholder Draft Trading Regulation Proposal 2016
World Resources Institute - 07/07/2017
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Anne Arundel County Utility Operation Complex - Millersville
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. MDE headquarters – Baltimore
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Maryland Department of AgricultureConference Rooms 110-112
Public Hearing 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. MDE headquarters – Baltimore
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Maryland Department of Agriculture Conference Rooms 110-112
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Maryland Department of Agriculture
2 p.m. – 5 p.m. MDE headquarters – Baltimore
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 Main floor conference room, C-1. Parking in the Stadium lot across the street
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. MDE headquarters – Baltimore
March 26, 2018 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
June 15, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
December 12, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2016 - Draft WQTAC Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
March 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Minutes
July 23, 2018 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
March 26, 2018 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
November 13, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
September 18, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
June 15, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
May 1, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
January 23, 2017 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
December 12, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
November 17, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
October 17, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
October 5, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
September 22, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
May 19, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
April 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
March 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
February 22, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
January 21, 2016 - WQTAC Meeting Agenda
July 23, 2018 - Phase III WIP Update Presentation
March 26, 2018 - WIP 3 Presentation
September 18, 2017 - Accounting for Growth Phase III WIP
December 12, 2016 - Perdue Farms
December 12, 2016 - BAT Septic Systems as a Nutrient Trading Tool
December 12, 2016 - Aligning for Growth: Proposed Approach & Options
November 17, 2016 - Aligning for Growth: Proposed Conceptual Approaches
October 5, 2016 - Tracking "Performance Credit" for Point Source
October 17, 2016 - Bay Restoration Fund Nutrient Credit Purchase Presentation to: Water Quality Trading Advisory Committee
September 22, 2016 - BRF Legislative Amendment and Aligning for Growth
May 19, 2016 - Estimated Available Nutrient Credits
March 21, 2016 - Local Water Quality Trading to Meet the MS4 Responsibility for Nutrient and Sediment Reductions to the Chesapeake Bay
February 22, 2016 - Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works
February 22, 2016 - Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
February 22, 2016 - Mechanisms for Annual Trading & Crediting with WWTPs
February 22, 2016 - Mechanisms for Annual Trading & Crediting with WWTPs - Notes
February 22, 2016 - Role of Aggregator
January 21, 2016 - Agricultural Credit Generation
January 21, 2016 - Trading Nutrient Credits With Phase I MS4 Permittees
January 21, 2016 - Nutrient Trading Implementation in NPDES Municipal Discharge Permits
Septic Data
Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) Letter
MDE Response to AELR
Revised COMAR 26.08.11
PSC Approved Revisions to Midpoint Assessment
Summary of Changes COMAR 26.08.11
Draft COMAR 26.03.13
Draft Accounting for Growth, Phase III WIP
Draft Evaluation of Accounting for Growth Policy Options
WSA Regulation Schedule for Nutrient Trading Regulations
Draft COMAR 26.08.11 Outline
COMAR 26.08.11 Nutrient Sediment Trading Regulations
PSC-Approved Schedule Adjustments to the Midpoint Asses Timeline
Aligning for Growth - Guiding Principles
Aligning for Growth - Timeline for Policy Development
Cancellation Notice
Separate Septic Allocation AfG Options
BRF Credit Purchase
Lynn's letter to WQTAC
Trading Guidance Comments
Draft Issue Paper - BRF Credit Purchase Issue Paper - WQ TAC Draft Version 10/17/16
Nutrient Trading Referenced in the Discharge Permits
Accounting for Growth Workgroup Report (August 2013)
Environmental Finance Center Chesapeake Bay Financing Report: A Report to the Maryland General Assembly pursuant to the 2015 Joint Chairman’s Report -page 225 (Feb 2015)
Section 40 Report - "Historical and Projected Chesapeake Bay Restoration Spending: A Report to the Maryland General Assembly pursuant to the 2015 Joint Chairman’s Report -page 225" (January 2016)
Draft Proposal for Regulatory Language
Draft Regulations
Proposed Action on Regulations
MDA Credit Generation
Maryland Nutrient Trading Map
Maryland Trading Regions
Maryland Local TN, TP, and TSS TMDLs
Maryland Local TN TMDLs
Maryland Local TP TMDLs
Maryland Local TSS TMDLs
Maryland Nutrient Trading Website
Draft Maryland Trading and Offset Policy and Guidance Manual Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Water Quality Trading press releases and news articles
Integrated Water Planning Program Water and Science Administration Maryland Department of the Environment Phone: 410-537-3901 Email: gregory.busch@maryland.gov
Program Coordinator Ecosystem Markets Maryland Department of Agriculture 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-841-5897 Email: susan.payne@maryland.gov
Office of the Secretary Maryland Department of the Environment Phone: 410-537-3744 Email: gary.setzer@maryland.gov
Maryland Department of the Environment Phone: 410-537-3864 Email: kathy.stecker@maryland.gov
MDE is committed to assuring public participation and stakeholder involvement in all the Department's activities through numerous programs that encourage public participation and public responsibility in order to achieve Maryland's public health and environmental protection goals.
The Water Quality Trading Advisory Committee is interested in hearing from you.
Please send an email to gregory.busch@maryland.gov, or susan.payne@maryland.gov with your comments or recommendations.
We're available on the following channels.
