environmental politics

If you live in the City of Aberdeen and have noticed a different taste or odor to your water, don't be alarmed. City officials say it's perfectly safe to drink and use. The problem, which relates to the source and the weather, isn't a new one and typically crops up in the summer, city Public Works Director Kyle Torster said.

By Allan Vought

Aug 26, 2016

Sparrows Point Terminal, the Hanover-based firm that owns the site of the former steel mill, has changed its name to Tradepoint Atlantic, a move the company hopes will enhance its global appeal but that evokes feelings of loss.

By Jonathan M. Pitts

Jan 13, 2016

The developers of the old steel mill at Sparrows Point have rebranded their project as "Tradepoint Atlantic" in hopes of appealing to international companies.

By Pamela Wood

Jan 12, 2016

We ask the Gov. Larry Hogan to do the right thing and quickly issue strong nitrogen oxide regulations that bring Maryland's power plants up to snuff. Baltimore should benefit from the Clean Air Act just like the rest of the country. Instead, we continue to breathe dangerously polluted air with no fix in sight.

Obama administration's approval of oil exploration off the coast of Alaska is woefully misguided

Much has been said and written about proposed new emissions regulations in Maryland, including two recent letters to the editor in the Sun that vilify NRG Energy and misrepresent its stance on improving Maryland's environment. In the interest of accuracy, I'd like to provide some background and NRG's true position.

Vickie Venzen is an environmental protection specialist at Aberdeen Proving Ground and the mother of three children, including twins. She and her dog, Face, a cane corso breed, competed in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York in February. We talk to her about what makes Face special and how she got into show business ¿ dog show business, that is.

Joel D. Fedder, a partner in the Baltimore law firm of Fedder and Garten and a philanthropist interested in the environment, died of cancer April 18 at his Florida home. He was 83.

By Frederick N. Rasmussen

Apr 27, 2015

Earth Day's impact was immediate: bipartisan support in Congress led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act.

Gov. Larry Hogan is backing away from his predecessor's attempt to make coal-fired power plants install costly new pollution controls, switch to cleaner-burning fuel or shut down.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Apr 17, 2015

Baltimore County hoping to encourage use of environmentally friendly tools

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners seems to be leaning toward continuing as a member of the Clean Chesapeake Coalition, despite other members leaving the group and the possibility of increased membership dues beyond $25,000 annually.

We've all stepped in it and seen it on our lawns, in parks and in public places. Dog feces is more than just a smelly nuisance; it is actually a health and environmental hazard.

Environmental and health groups have launched a television ad blitz Thursday calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to release an air pollution regulation that he blocked when he took office.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Apr 2, 2015

If 'rain tax' foes oppose a repeal, let's leave the law alone.

Important legislation is now pending in the Maryland General Assembly that would establish new goals for renewable energy. The legislation would increase our Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), or the percentage of Maryland's energy that comes from renewable sources, from the current standard of 20 percent by 2022 to 25 percent by 2020, and would encourage further increases by 2025.

WASHINGTON -- Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Wednesday criticized a bipartisan bill intended to overhaul federal chemical regulations because it would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to preempt the oversight of some chemicals by states.

By John Fritze

Mar 18, 2015

Maryland's bee losses are overstated and pesticides are not the primary cause

Hogan turns back the clock on clean air rules

A House committee is scheduled to hear testimony on a bill that would impose an air pollution regulation that Gov. Larry Hogan withdrew when he took office.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Mar 12, 2015

Millions of Chinese speakers around the world watched "Under the Dome," the 104-minute documentary about China's air pollution situation before it was removed by the government. In China, demanding accountability is never OK, even when the topic is as widely known and severe as air pollution.

Robin Ford, of Robin Ford Building & Remodeling in Hampstead, attended the Green Home Building A-Z Conference on Feb. 11, presented by the Maryland Building Industry Association's Green Building Council.

The case of Anne Arundel County shows why Hogan's symbolic repeal of the 'rain tax' deserved to be killed in the legislature.

Labeling the stormwater management fee as a 'rain tax' has an impact. But even without the rain tax label, a majority of Marylanders still oppose it.

Efforts to loosen pollution restrictions at the state and federal levels need to be reversed

Kieron Quinn, a retired attorney who practiced admiralty and environmental law, died of cancer complications Feb. 13 at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Riderwood resident was 73.

By Jacques Kelly

Feb 27, 2015

A month after blocking hotly disputed environmental regulations drawn up by his predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan announced he is putting out his own rules to curb Chesapeake Bay pollution from farms – including an immediate ban on spreading poultry manure on Eastern Shore fields where the water-quality threat is greatest.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Feb 23, 2015

Just a few weeks after blocking farm pollution rules finalized by his predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan is unveiling his own proposal to limit poultry manure runoff fouling the Chesapeake Bay.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Feb 23, 2015

A string of illicit chemical discharges from the business community in Carroll County has prompted the county to increase its efforts to inform the public of the damage such chemicals can cause to Carroll's waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland doesn't tax the rain, and Gov. Larry Hogan isn't repealing anything.

Columbia-based specialty chemicals giant W.R. Grace & Co. announced Thursday that it would split into two independent companies, one focused on construction products and one focused on other materials and chemicals.

By Carrie Wells

Feb 5, 2015

Gov. Larry Hogan's pursuit of 'rain tax' repeal is not only nonsensical, it's delighting his opponents in Annapolis

With about a third more constituents and a lot more territory to cover, Sate Sen. Wayne Norman finds himself with a significantly larger workload since the Maryland General Assembly's 2015 legislative session began last month, compared to his seven prior years as a state delegate.

President Barack Obama unveiled a nearly $4 trillion budget proposal on Monday that would boost spending on infrastructure, medical research and education — and that stoked an ongoing fight with congressional Republicans over how to pay for those priorities.

By John Fritze

Feb 2, 2015

In matters of clean air and water, elder Hogan set the bipartisan example for Maryland's governor

Hogan wrong to withdraw regulations to reduce air pollution from coal-fired power plants

Instead of grandstanding on manure regulation and the "rain tax," Larry Hogan could be the Republican who finally makes progress on the stalled Chesapeake Bay restoration. What a great way to honor his father.efforts

By Dan Rodricks

Jan 27, 2015

The Chesapeake Bay's ecological health has actually dipped slightly in recent years, even though pollution levels improved in 2013, according to federal scientists.

Baltimore County Executive Kamenetz's plan to reduce 'rain tax' and postpone regulatory timetable signals a widening retreat for Chesapeake Bay cleanup

In one of his first acts after taking office Wednesday, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan withdrew a handful of regulations proposed in the final weeks of the previous Democratic administration. One hotly contested proposal would have curbed Eastern Shore farmers' use of poultry manure on their fields.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Jan 21, 2015

The O'Malley administration's 11th-hour move to curb Eastern Shore farmers' use of chicken manure as fertilizer appears likely to go through, unless incoming Republican Gov. Larry Hogan acts quickly Wednesday afternoon to stop it.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Jan 20, 2015

Simple changes to avoid messy water damage this winter

Big ships on the Chesapeake Bay follow strict environmental safety rules

The agenda for Hogan and the legislature should be a cautious one in 2015.

Gov.-elect Larry Hogan will name additional members of his Cabinet Tuesday at an Annapolis news conference as he continues to lay the groundwork for taking over the State House Jan. 21.

By Michael Dresser

Jan 7, 2015

Baltimore City and Baltimore County must remove or prevent hundreds of tons of trash and debris from being washed or dumped annually into the Jones Falls, Gwynns Falls and the lower Patapsco River under new pollution limits. Advocates say the litter is not just an eyesore, but a public health hazard and an economic blight.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Jan 6, 2015

As Congress opens its session on Tuesday, several Maryland interests — including chicken farmers, environmentalists and federal employees — will be watching for signs of how the new political landscape on Capitol Hill will affect issues they say are critical to the state's economy.

By John Fritze

Jan 5, 2015

Salting roads and sidewalks may keep people safe in winter, but scientists warn that profligate de-icing is turning urban streams and rivers salty, harming fish and other fresh-water aquatic creatures.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Jan 2, 2015