In this space a couple of months ago, we discussed upcoming priorities for the green groups for this legislative session: to recap, we expect to see a cellulosic ethanol bill and perhaps something on ghost crab pots; there will definitely be discussion of fisheries, such as yellow perch, and some sort of something on oysters, but it's not clear what yet.
Now comes word from the Patuxent Riverkeeper that they're looking to strengthen the Critical Areas Law.
The law restricts building within the shoreline, but exceptions are often granted; and on some occasions (see: Little Island, many other parts of Anne Arundel County) people just build in the critical area anyway, without permits or regard for the law.
Don't know what the environmental groups have in mind, but we shall soon see. At least one activist group, South Arundel Citizens for Responsible Development, is pressuring a bank not to lend to anyone building in the critical area. Stay tuned.
I report on the environment and Chesapeake Bay. A native of West Virginia, I have focused mainly on Maryland's environment since moving here in 1983. Along the way, I've crewed aboard a skipjack in the bay, canoed under city streets up the Jones Fall from the Inner Harbor, and gone deep underground in a western Maryland coal mine. Recently, I have been covering the growth and development transforming the landscape. I love seafood, rambles in the country and good stories. I hope to share some here.
