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The
following news "briefs" highlight recent news regarding transportation-related
environmental issues, primarily air quality, affecting the Baltimore region.
Please note that this brief is not all inclusive of the variety and magnitude of
activities in the region. It is intended for informational purposes only;
refer to the source, guidance, or program for additional
information.
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Baltimore Region Designated Nonattainment for New Fine Particle
Standard
On December 22, 2008, the EPA announced
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County,
Howard County, Anne Arundel
County, and Carroll County have all been designated "nonattainment" for the 2006
24-hour fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) standard. This means that they do not
meet the standard for daily levels of PM 2.5 that was established by the EPA to
protect human health.
Fine particle pollution is around 1/30th the
diameter of a human hair. It consists of liquid droplets and microscopic solids
that are suspended in the air. This pollution comes from power plants,
industrial facilities and vehicles, as well as other sources such a wood
burning.
The State of Maryland must submit an air quality implementation
plan to EPA by April 2012.
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 Greenhouse Gas Auctioning Process Begins
On December 17th, a second auction was held as part of the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The purpose of RGGI is to reduce emissions from
power plants, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
RGGI is a cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide
emissions, a key greenhouse gas. A cap is set on the total amount of these
emissions allowed from electricity generators in the RGGI region, which includes
ten states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Then, an auction is held in
order to distribute allowances for emissions.
Total emissions in the RGGI region are capped at 2009 levels, from
2009 to 2014. From 2015 to 2018, the cap will go down by 10 percent. The first
RGGI auction was held in September 2008. The first two auctions were
pre-compliance because the obligations for compliance did not come into effect
until the beginning of 2009.
In Maryland, revenue from the auctions will
go towards promoting cleaner energy sources, energy efficiency and conservation,
and provide rate relief for low and moderate income households.
Click for more information on
RGGI |
 BMC Board Creates Regional
Sustainability Committee
The Board of Directors of the Baltimore
Metropolitan Council has created a Regional Sustainability Committee to share
information and coordinate activities that will benefit the entire Baltimore
region. Joshua Feldmark, Director of Howard County's Office of Environmental
Sustainability, serves as the committee's chair. The committee has
initially identified a number of areas to address: 1. Coordinate regional
sustainability programs. 2. Foster cooperation between state and local
governments. 3. Maximize partnerships with public, private and
quasi-governmental agencies.
View the BMC press release
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Transportation Outlook 2035 Draft Amendment Open for
Review
The BRTB is pleased to present, for public review and comment,
the draft preferred alternative for the amendment to the Baltimore region's
long-range transportation plan, Transportation Outlook 2035: Creating a
Blueprint for the Baltimore Region's Future.
This draft preferred
alternative proposes $225 million in funding for regional transit projects,
beginning in the year 2020. The projects included in this amendment focus on
ways to make the regional transit system more user-friendly and attractive to a
broader segment of the region's population and workforce. This amendment will
not affect currently funded projects in Transportation Outlook 2035 which was
adopted in November 2007.
A public input period is being held from Tuesday, December 16, 2008 to
Friday, January 23, 2009. During this time, public comments will be accepted by
mail, fax, and online using our public comment form. All comments must be
received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
Comments may also be submitted in person at a public meeting on Thursday,
January 15, 2009 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. or 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BMC offices
located at 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224.
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Report of Interest
The Climate Action Plan.
Maryland Commission on Climate Change. August 2008.
This final report, released on August 27, 2008, documents a plan of
action for the state to "address the drivers of climate change, to prepare for
its likely impacts in Maryland, and to establish goals and timetables for
implementation."
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Environmental
News Brief