Regular Monthly Meeting - May 3, 2007

Members Present:

Sally Hornor, Vice Chair
Scott Hymes
Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Michael Shultz

Guests and Staff:

Kathy Brohawn, MDE / SSA
Melissa Chatham, MDE / SSA
Zhenghua Jin, MDE / SSA
Albert Johnston, Greater Severna Park Council
Ginger Ellis, AACo. DPW
Brenda Reiber, AACo. County Executive’s Office
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW

Absent:

Carrie Capuco
Dave Hanson
Jeff Schomig
Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex-officio)
Ron Dillon, County Council (Ex-officio)                                              

CALL TO ORDER

Vice Chair Hornor called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission to order at 4:20 p.m. A quorum was present at 4:55 p.m. 

Vice Chair Hornor stated that Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was invited to address fecal coliform TMDLs for the Severn River. Ms. Melissa Chatham, Ms. Zhenghua Jin, and Ms. Kathy Brohawn from MDE were introduced to SRC members and guests.

Ms. Chatham began the presentation with a brief overview of the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) program, a requirement under the federal Clean Water Act. She defined a TMDL, and discussed which waterbodies require TMDLs, a list of statewide impairments, and a description of the TMDL development and modeling processes. The TMDL review process includes internal MDE review, as well as interagency, preliminary EPA, stakeholder/public reviews and submission to EPA for review and approval. She discussed TMDL outreach and implementation including institutionalization, planning and execution.  MDE’s TMDL responsibilities include development of the 303(d) List, TMDL analyses and TMDL implementation. Ms. Brohawn pointed out that a lot of work and effort goes into developing TMDLs for the watersheds.

Ms. Zhenghua, the project manager, addressed the development of fecal coliform TMDLs  for the Severn River watershed. She reviewed and compared the land use information for Whitehall, Meredith, and Mill Creeks and the Severn River mainstem. These creeks were chosen because they were not meeting water quality standards. Fecal coliform sources from the watershed include human, pets, wildlife, and livestock. Pet waste generates more loadings to streams than septic tanks. It comprises 72% of the bacteria going into the waterways. Current loads, allowable loads and the required percent of reduction were discussed. Concerns were expressed about reliability of using antibiotic resistance patterns as the source tracking method. Numerous questions were answered and several observations made during the discussion. At the Commission’s request, MDE will send an electronic copy of the presentation to be distributed to SRC members.

Commission members thanked Ms. Chatham, Ms. Zhenghua, and Ms. Brohawn for coming to the meeting and for their informative presentation.  (The presentation is now on MDE's website. Go to "Summary Presentation of the TMDL Process" to see most of the presentation given at the April SRC meeting.).

The Minutes for the April 5, 2007, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval.  No changes were made so the Minutes were approved as written.

MOTION:  A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE APRIL 5, 2007, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION AS WRITTEN, WAS MADE AND SECONDED.  THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY A UNANAMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE

OLD BUSINESS

Hornor reported that Ginger Ellis and her staff (AACo. DPW) are working with Planning & Zoning on the overlay zone.  This is a continuing process even though the Committee has not met since the last SRC meeting.

Shultz noted that he had nothing new to report at this time, but stated that any input is always appreciated.  His feeling is to look at larger issues and try to come up with policies and recommendations to address those issues.

There was nothing new to report.

Hymes reported that he visited the area that may be pumped.  He observed that the terrain is hilly and that an enormous amount of clearing has been done.  He noted that a major pumping station would be necessary to handle that volume of water.

Lubbert reported that the SRC website had 1,164 hits during the month of April.  She pointed out that a new item (Different Organizations – Different Agenda) has been added to the website.  Hornor explained that Vlavianos felt this was necessary since she receives so many inquiries from the public about specific issues which should be directed to the Severn River Association, not the Severn River Commission.

Lubbert and Hornor are planning to help Hanson man the booth at the Maritime Heritage Festival.  Information about the Riverkeepers, the Severn River Association and SRC’s “Living with the Severn River” brochure is being provided for distribution at the festival.

Hymes presented a list of questions that he helped put together about this project to submit to AACo. Planning & Zoning.  He was asked to give this list to SRC.  Some issues of concern include disturbance to specimen trees, clear cutting, steep slopes and wetlands, and yellow perch spawning.  Hymes feels that policy issues are involved rather than specifics.  Following a general discussion, members decided to address this matter further at the June meeting.

Schomig will report at the June meeting about the status of SRC members as County employees and the proposed Office of Law’s presentation to the Commission about regulatory takings constraints on critical area enforcement.

NEW BUSINESS

PUBLIC INPUT

There was no public input.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:12 p.m.  The next regular monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2007, 4:00 p.m., in the Chesapeake Room, 2664 Riva Road.