Maryland Bay Cabinet Discusses Environmental Cost Of Budget Solution Delay With Stakeholders

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Senior officials from the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Environment, Agriculture and Planning briefed stakeholders last Friday in Annapolis on the possible environmental impacts to the State if a revenue solution is not approved during the upcoming Special Session of the General Assembly.

“Failure to invest in Maryland will result in failure to protect and restore our natural resources,” warned DNR Secretary John R. Griffin at a meeting of about 50 constituent organization representatives. “The cost of delaying budget solutions would be devastating to Maryland’s environment and local communities.”

If the General Assembly fails to reach consensus on a budget solution, the cuts to the four Bay Cabinet agencies combined will total approximately $168.8 million and 313 employees.

“Without action, reductions across the board for our already stressed environmental regulatory system will occur – reductions in enforcement and efforts to control air, water and waste pollution,” said MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson.

Many of our critical environmental conservation and protection efforts will have no funding. The potential gap of $157 million to DNR’s budget would result in the: closure of eight State Parks and four Wildlife Management Areas; diversion to the General Fund of all Transfer Tax funds including local and state-side Program Open Space funds in FY ’09; decreased waterway improvement, access and navigation related projects; and severely reduced Bay restoration activities.

“Environmental restoration efforts are already woefully underfunded,” said Kim Coble, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Director. “Any revenue packages must include money for the Bay and environment if we have any hope to improve Maryland’s future. To adequately protect and restore our environment, more funding is desperately needed.”

“We need funding restored and increased to adequate levels if we truly want to make progress in restoring the Chesapeake Bay and our fisheries resources,” urged Jim Gracie of the Maryland Aquatic Resources Coalition, an umbrella organization the 6 largest recreational fishing groups in the state.

“Every acre that we fail to protect from development and dollar that we fail to invest will result in lost opportunities for Marylanders to enjoy outdoor recreation experiences including hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and hiking,” added Griffin.

Click here to view Secretary Griffin’s full power point presentation on the cost of delay for DNR.

For additional information about the cost of delay’s impact to other Bay Cabinet agencies contact:
Robert Ballinger, MDE, 410-537-3012
Sue duPont, MDA, 410-841-5889
John Coleman, MDP, 410-767-4614

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October 29, 2007

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov