UPDATE: Maryland's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed 

Public Comment Period

On December 15, 2011, Maryland provided EPA with a preliminary draft of the State's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The purpose of the preliminary draft was to provide EPA with an opportunity to confirm that the proposed strategies would meet the Bay TMDL goals. Based on results from EPA, updated draft documents are available at www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/TMDL/TMDLImplementation/Pages/DRAFT_PhaseII_WIPDocument_Main.aspx   for public review and comment from January 26, 2012 through March 9, 2012.

Comments on the draft Phase II WIP should be submitted in writing to MDE no later than March 9, 2012 by email (preferred) to: wipcoordinator@mde.state.md.us  or by post to: Tom Thornton, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard – Suite 540, Baltimore MD 21230-1718.   All comments received during the comment period will be considered as the State continues to refine the Phase II WIP for submittal to EPA on March 30, 2012. Comments will be consolidated and responses provided in a document that will be available on MDE's website.

A series of regional public informational meetings on the draft Phase II WIP will take place during the comment period. Please note that formal comments will not be taken at the public meetings; rather, these meetings are to answer questions about the WIP.

2012 Phase II WIP Public Meetings

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
6:30 – 9:00 pm
General Public Meeting
4-H Center in College Park - video conferenced to the Frostburg University, Salisbury University and the College of Southern Maryland
The Maryland 4-H Center
8020 Greenmead Drive
College Park, MD 20740

For directions, visit www.maryland4h.org

For directions and campus map, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu

Thursday, March 1, 2012
6:30 – 9:00 pm
General Public Meeting for Central Maryland
Baltimore County Agricultural Center
1114 Shawan Road
Cockeysville, Maryland 21030

For directions, visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation    
Please carpool if possible.

Monday, March 5, 2012
2:00 – 4:00 pm
General Public Meeting for All
Maryland Department of Environment
First Floor Aeris, Aqua, and Terra Conference Rooms located behind MDE reception desk
(Participants need to register at reception desk)
1800 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1718

For directions and parking instructions, please visit: www.mde.state.md.us/aboutmde/DirectionstoMDE/Pages/AboutMDE/Directions/index.aspx   
The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology has worked with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture to schedule these meetings and funding through the Town Creek Foundation has made all of this possible.  

Please call (410) 827-6202 or email nnunn@umd.edu regarding weather related questions. Information regarding cancellations or weather delayed events will be posted on www.agroecol.umd.edu