ECOS’ newly elected President Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, wrote this letter to ECOS Members to start his tenure for the 2021-2022 year.
Maryland
Maryland Passes Ambitious Organics Diversion Mandate
In late May, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed HB 264, a bill mandating organics diversion. The measure requires covered entities generating at least two tons of organic waste per week…
Nine State AGs Request Revocation of Test Methods for Wood Heaters
On May 21, nine state Attorneys General wrote to U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Assessment Division detailing how two alternative test methods used to certify that new wood stoves meet EPA’s…
ECOS Green Report: State Environmental Agency Modernization — Leveraging Unmanned Aerial Systems to Improve Environmental Results
In recent years, states have established the use of drones within various environmental programs to boost emergency preparedness and response, water monitoring (harmful algal blooms, E. coli, Cyanobacteria, bathymetric, &…
Maryland Undertakes ‘Sewer Sentinel’ Effort to Sample Wastewater for COVID-19
On November 12, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced a statewide initiative to sample wastewater as an early warning system of COVID-19 outbreaks in vulnerable Maryland communities. The Sewer Sentinel Initiative,…
ECOS Green Report: State Case Studies on the Use of Construction & Demolition Materials to Address the Nation’s Infrastructure Needs
States play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of construction and demolition (C&D) materials in infrastructure. This report presents several case studies, each examining a state…
Maryland Becomes First State in the Nation to Ban Foam Containers
Maryland this week became the first state to institute a law banning foam food containers at restaurants, schools, and other food service establishments. The law had been set to take…
Fifteen States and DC Sign MOU to Accelerate Bus and Truck Electrification
This week, 15 states and the District of Columbia signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate bus and truck electrification and eradicate diesel emissions by 2050. The signatories will collaborate…
States Exercise Enforcement Discretion, Provide Other Flexibility amid COVID-19
A number of state environmental agencies are providing enforcement discretion and/or other regulatory flexibility to assist regulated entities during the COVID-19 crisis. While many states urge the regulated community to…
Maryland Sets Sights on 100% Clean Energy by 2040
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan this week unveiled his plans on clean energy for the 2020 legislative session. The Clean and Renewable Energy Standard (CARES), which aims to set the state…
