A coalition of 15 environmental groups has listed reforming Maryland's critical areas laws as the top priority for the General Assembly's session, which starts tomorrow.

The state Critical Areas Commission, which was created in 1984 to protect sensitive waterfront areas within 1,000 feet of the Chesapeake Bay, is too weak in its ability to create and enforce standards, according to a memo by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters that reflects the opinions of more than a dozen groups, including Environment Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and 1,000 Friends of Maryland.

The coalition of 15 environmental groups is urging lawmakers to pass a law that would give the Critical Areas Comission greater power to impose fines and enforce the no-building zone, as well as to write regulations.  The commission would also be strengthened by the hiring of a full-time advocate to defend waterfront areas in planning hearings, according to the memo.

The environmental advocates would also like state lawmakers to:

*) Finish the passage of the Cheaspeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund, which was started in the General Assembly's special session this fall.  The trust fund would create a $50 million annual dedicated source of cash, in part from vehicle rental taxes, to help clean up the bay by encouraging agricultural runoff prevention programs and stormwater system improvements, among other steps.

*) Pass the Global Warming Solutions Act, which would follow California's plan to cut emissions of greenhouse gases from all sources by 20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050.

*) Approve a bill proposed by Gov. O'Malley's administration that would provide consumers with incentives to reduce their energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.