Stormwater Tactics Called Flawed

Astudy commissioned by the Potomac River Association environmental group concludes that three out of four pollution control measures adopted by the state and St. Mary's County are not working properly.

The study -- "Opportunities to Improve Environmental Protection in the Critical Area of Saint Mary's County: A Preliminary Analysis" -- can be viewed at http://www.ceds.org/CAC.

Focusing on land in the "critical area" -- which extends 1,000 feet from the high tide line -- the study sought to examine all of the environmental protection measures required by the Chesapeake Bay laws adopted by St. Mary's County and the state.

Because development within the critical areas has the potential to cause substantially more impact to the bay and its tributaries when compared with inland building sites, state and local laws impose restrictions intended to reduce the environmental impact of stormwater runoff and other possible sources of pollution.

The Potomac River Association, founded in 1967, is the oldest environmental group serving the mid-Chesapeake Bay and Southern Maryland region. The group focuses on the Potomac River and its tributaries, the Patuxent River watershed and the Chesapeake.

The association's study was produced by Community and Environmental Defense Services, an Owings Mills-based network of lawyers, planners and scientists who advise communities how to avoid the effect of suburban sprawl and other development projects.

After visiting nearly a dozen recently completed critical area development projects, those conducting the study found that stormwater facilities on 75 percent of the sites were providing virtually no pollution protection to the bay and other downstream waters, the Potomac River Association said in a statement.

In addition to the facilities evaluated in the study, there are about 375 other stormwater management measures throughout St. Mary's. The association directed CEDS to develop a program to train volunteers to evaluate the condition of water facilities. The first volunteer training session will be in the spring, the organization said.

Those wishing to participate may contact association president Erik Jansson at 301-475-8366 or planetearth@erols.com.

Schools Forum

The St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners and the county's Board of Education will meet jointly Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.

The meeting is open to the public and will be taped for local cable Channel 95 as part of the county commissioners meeting. The board members will discuss issues of joint concern including opportunities for collaboration, impacts of state budget changes and updates on the Tech Connect program and the What Counts forums in Allegany, Frederick, Howard and St.Mary's counties that addressed what people value about their public schools, and what factors contribute most to student success.

Voting Machine Test

St. Mary's County Board of Elections will conduct logic and accuracy testing on the AccuVote touch-screen voting machines Jan. 18, starting at 10 a.m.