environmental politics

Federal agents intercepted

Given the rote — and sometimes incompatible — positions Mr. Harris expressed last week, it appears he's poised to do a lot of complaining and not much else from his seat in Congress.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler on Wednesday tried to move past the fallout from his secretly recorded comments about his opponent's ethnicity, hosting an environmental policy discussion on the Eastern Shore. Television cameras and reporters met the gubernatorial hopeful, questioning Gansler's remarks that Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown was running for governor on his African American heritage.

Former Social Services building being demolished to make way for a new medical office building

The town commissioners' meeting room in the Bel Air Town Hall as a capacity of 115, and every bit of available space was taken Tuesday evening as local residents crowded in to hear from U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Dist. 1

A Howard County startup is trying to prove that its algae bioreactors are an answer to greenhouse-gas pollution.

Baltimore's stormwater fees are hard on businesses — and could have been worse.

About 50 representatives of Harford County businesses and industries, along with county, municipal and state appointed and elected officials, crowded into a meeting room at the HEAT Center in Aberdeen Wednesday to learn more about the so-called "rain tax."

Energy production and environmental protection need not be mutually exclusive

Despite claims to the contrary, meat-cleaver approach to budget cutting is hurting plenty of Marylanders

A deal to avoid the 'nuclear option' and secure Senate votes for President Barack Obama's nominees is welcome, but the filibuster still needs reform.

Stormwater fees amount to taxation without representation

Thomas E. Perez, the Marylander nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Labor, is set to face a critical vote in the Senate this week that puts his confirmation in the middle of a blistering battle over the use of the filibuster.

Senate Democrats should change the filibuster rule if Republicans won't stop abusing it

Five residents of an Edgewood apartment were treated after being exposed to carbon monoxide Thursday evening.

The present and former owners of a Hagerstown cement plant have agreed to pay a $700,000 fine and beef up emission controls at the facility to settle alleged air pollution violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday.

Craig's call for repeal of the "rain tax" might be good politics, but it's probably bad policy because cleaning up the bay is going to necessitate dealing with stormwater runoff, and dealing with stormwater runoff isn't going to happen for free.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's 'rain tax' will do a lot of damage and not as much good as environmentalists claim.

Blame the EPA for the loss of jobs when Carnival's Pride leaves Baltimore

Carnival Cruise Line's departure from Baltimore in 2014 need not put an end to local cruise ship business

Still smarting from news that half of Baltimore's lucrative cruise business is headed south next year, the state's ports chief said Friday that officials already are working on replacing the Carnival Pride.

Baltimore appears destined to lose lucrative cruise business next year, as Florida-based Carnival Cruise Lines announced Thursday that it plans to move its 2,124-passenger ship, the Pride, to Tampa, Fla., in November 2014.

Ocean City, Rehoboth and Dewey beaches earn top rating from the Natural Resources Defense Council for ensuring healthy water quality for bathers. But the New York-based environmental group says nationally, there's still too much pollution fouling beaches, and the federal government isn't doing enough to safeguard the public.

President Obama will unveil a sweeping plan today to cut the nation's carbon pollution while also preparing communities for the impacts of climate change. Largely bypassing Congress, he proposes to curb power plant emissions, boost renewable energy production and enhance appliance and building efficiency.

Despite a law aimed at fighting Baltimore's notorious litter problem by discouraging plastic shopping bag use, city officials say most food vendors checked are violating a 2 1/2-year-old ordinance requiring them to notify customers they'll get the flimsy disposable sacks only if they ask for them.

For some residents near Sparrows Point, there's an upside to the closure of the steel mill: No more steelmaking byproduct — kish — raining down on their properties. But a year after the shutdown, some still worry about the possibility of long-term effects.

Maryland's governor stood up for Baltimore jobs and environment

Environmental and community groups in Maryland supplement local, state government beach water-quality monitoring. Some environmental groups have filed notice that they intend to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its beach water-quality monitoring criteria, arguing they don't adequately protect public health.

Since when does Gov. Martin O'Malley care if a business leaves the state?

Religious people have an obligation not help protect creation from pollution — and that includes paying stormwater fees.

Carnival air pollution must be cleaned up, not overlooked by Maryland's governor

Is there a double stand for pollution caused by cruise ships?

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's budget is no break-even proposition for residents; rather, it offers a path toward a strong, growing city that benefits all.

The long-awaited proposed details on how Prince George's County officials plan to implement the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program, better known as the rain tax, were released by Department of Environmental Resources officials on Monday.