O'Malley Supports Septic Mandates For New Homes
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley detailed a proposal Monday to have homebuilders install top-grade septic systems in new developments as part of an effort to control rural growth and curb pollution in the Bay.
O'Malley, a Democrat, threw his support behind Senate and House measures that would mandate installation of high-end, shared septic systems in new developments of five houses or more. The septics plan would require new homes in smaller groups to be connected to individual septic systems with nitrogen removal technology.
The move is aimed at controlling new development in rural Maryland, where developers have traditionally relied on septic systems instead of public sewers. It would also tackle one of four major sources of nitrogen runoff, which creates "dead zones" in the Chesapeake Bay.
"I'm asking for your help to take on one of the last remaining sources of pollution to the Bay and that is septic systems and in particular the continued proliferation of large developments on septic systems," O'Malley told a group of supporters assembled at the State House.
Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George's and Delegate Stephen Lafferty, D-Baltimore County, stood by the governor as he announced his support of their measures. O'Malley announced in his State of the State address earlier this month he would be seeking the new limits on septics systems.
The bill will help the state begin to meet a federal mandate that it reduce pollution in the Bay in a "very dramatic way," Lafferty said.
However, opponents of the proposal called it an attempted "power grab" of local development control by the O'Malley administration.
"The concept is so flawed it's really not up for negotiation," said Senate Minority Whip E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
