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ShoreRivers, in partnership with the broader environmental community, will prioritize three bills this session: 1) a comprehensive climate package that will improve Maryland鈥檚 resilience and adaptation to climate change; 2) the PFAS Protection Act to protect Maryland residents from harmful chemicals in waters; and 3) the Maryland Environmental Human Rights Amendment, which will provide another mechanism for environmental protections under the state鈥檚 constitution.

As local residents face greater challenges on the Eastern Shore resulting from climate change, we must accelerate the implementation of聽climate-resilient nutrient reduction practices聽by increasing funding and technical support for our state and local agencies, the news release said.

ShoreRivers representatives will advocate for much of the federal funding allocated to the Chesapeake Bay Program in the recent infrastructure package to go toward implementation of conservation practices, particularly on agricultural lands throughout local watersheds.

The Maryland Department of the Environment must dedicate adequate personnel and resources in order to issue protective permits and take adequate enforcement action against pollution, ShoreRivers said.

As is laid out in a key piece of legislation being supported this session, MDE needs to conduct monthly inspections of facilities with administratively continued permits as well as facilities in significant noncompliance with their permits, and enforce meaningful penalties that disincentivize violating water pollution controls, according to ShoreRivers leaders. This bill aims to address the backlog of administratively continued discharge permits (often referred to as 鈥渮ombie鈥� permits) over the next three years.

Since the state has invested funds in upgrading the technology at many of these permitted facilities to reduce pollution loads, we should invest in our state agencies to ensure that terms of the permits are being met and that the technology is functioning as intended so we can meet our 2025 pollution reduction goals established by the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, ShoreRivers said.

ShoreRivers implements restoration projects throughout Eastern Shore communities, engages volunteers in tree plantings and oyster growing, and reaches thousands of students each year through environmental education programs in local schools. The organization鈥檚 advocacy at the local, state and federal level is intended to ensure all of those endeavors can continue in order to achieve its water quality goals. Maryland鈥檚 laws and regulations should protect and support these local investments, ShoreRivers said.

Anyone interested in getting involved and learning more about these priority bills, can tune in for the Maryland Environmental Legislative Summit at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25. Learn more and register at: .