Cost Of Bay Restoration Could Hinder Growth In Western Md.
CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- Some Allegany County officials say a state proposal for reducing Chesapeake Bay pollution would make it harder to build homes and businesses in the western Maryland mountains.
The Cumberland Times-News reported in its Tuesday edition that the county commissioners have directed their staff to draft comments critical of so-called "growth offsets" proposed by the Maryland Department of the Environment.
The proposed policy would require additional tree plantings, expanded sewage treatment and other measures to offset the environmental impact of new development.
The county's planning engineer says Allegany has little land suitable for development. She says the proposal doesn't account for the county's distance from the bay -- more than 200 miles along the Potomac River.
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