Maryland Forest Service now accepting applications for Community Forestry Catalyst Fund

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Forest Service is offering a new grant program to distribute $4.8 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act funds towards urban and community forestry projects during the next four years. The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund expands resources for Maryland’s ambitious commitment to enhance its forest cover and tree canopy through the state’s 5 Million Trees for Maryland initiative […]

Olszewski announces plans to consider adding additional capacity to Eastern Sanitary Landfill to extend site longevity

UPDATE: A public information meeting date has been set. Original story below… WHITE MARSH, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Monday announced plans to explore potential vertical expansion of the Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh — which fulfills a key recommendation of the Baltimore County Solid Waste Work Group and is anticipated to extend the longevity of the site […]

Maryland pursuing actions to control invasive catfish after federal fisheries disaster declined

BALTIMORE, MD—Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce notified Maryland Governor Wes Moore that it had declined Maryland’s request for a federal commercial fisheries disaster declaration that was sought to help address the economic and ecological damage caused by the spread of invasive catfish and snakeheads in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Maryland made the unique request in March as a […]

NOW YOU KNOW: Year-end highlights – part 2

The following is a legislative update from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. As we prepare for a new year filled with resolutions and growth, we took some time to review the highlights of what has taken place between the 2023 and upcoming 2024 legislative sessions. Once we return to Baltimore County after Sine Die, the work does not end. […]

Bring Your Own Bag Act: Councilman Marks responds to plastic bag ban criticism

From Councilman David Marks: I am responding to Glen Geelhaar’s latest smear against me (NottinghamMd.com, November 27). For the record, I voted to cut the bag fee in half, submitted the exemption for small businesses, and strongly supported every exemption that passed. I authored and passed the legislation that exempted fast food restaurants, pharmacies, and other small businesses.  That is why […]

Olszewski announces new Baltimore County Street Tree Replacement Program

Towson, MD—Neighborhood streets in areas around Baltimore County are getting greener and shadier as part of County Executive Johnny Olszewski’s new Street Tree Replacement Program. Gathering on Monday afternoon with community members and County officials in the Windsor Hill neighborhood of Chadwick Manor, Olszewski announced that in the program’s second season, the County’s urban foresters are planting 512 street trees […]

Baltimore County Council overrides Olszewski’s veto, amends plastic bag ban

TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Council on Monday evening unanimously overrode County Executive Johnny Olszewski’s veto regarding amendments to the so-called Bring Your Own Bag Act. Liquor stores will now be exempt from the new law. On October 25, Olszewski vetoed measures passed by the County Council that would ease the plastic bag ban. As of November 1, businesses subject to […]

Maryland Environment Secretary McIlwain, Attorney General Brown announce settlement of lawsuit over wastewater treatment facilities

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain and Attorney General Anthony G. Brown have announced the settlement of a lawsuit against Baltimore City to address unauthorized discharges of pollution from the state’s two largest sewage treatment plants. The settlement (PDF) includes an enforceable timeline for corrective actions at the city’s Back River and Patapsco wastewater treatment plants. It also includes a […]