On the same day that Carroll presented a resolution establishing a countywide water task force, officials fretted about legislation that could make it harder for towns to secure water.
Senate Bill 970 “could get towns and the county into further difficulty when trying to get groundwater,” said Edwin Singer, environmental health director for the Carroll County Health Department, at a mayors? meeting with commissioners Thursday.
The bill allows the Maryland Department of the Environment to designate Water Management Strategy Areas if a “specific water resource problem has been identified and for which the department has adopted specific water use restrictions or criteria for permit approval in order to protect the water resource or existing water users.”
Singer said the definition of strategy area is vague, leaving it subject to interpretation and giving the state too much authority to change the term?s meaning.
Towns have complained in recent months that MDE?s regulations are too conservative when it comes to how much municipalities are allowed to pump from wells.
The legislation, which Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore City, introduced March 1 at MDE?s request, also increases the fines placed on towns that pump more than the state allows from $500 a day with a $25,000 maximum to $10,000 a day with no limit.
Also Thursday, county Planning Director Steve Horn presented a resolution to Carroll?s eight municipalities, commissioners and health department to sign to establish the Carroll County Water Resource Coordination Council.
The council, which will meet in three weeks, is charged with figuring out how municipalities can comply with the state?s mandate that towns have enough water under drought conditions.
IF YOU GO
What: Senate Bill 970 hearing
When: 1 p.m. Thursday
Where: Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee
