​(August 3, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) invites the public to provide comments on plans and methods to meet federally mandated requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and improve Chesapeake Bay water quality. Citizens are encouraged to read the draft plan and provide comments online.  Click here for SHA’s draft Chesapeake Bay Restoration plan.

“SHA is committed to improving the health of our State treasure, the Chesapeake Bay,” said SHA Administrator Gregory C. Johnson, P.E.  “We strongly encourage the public to take a look at our draft plan and provide comments about it.” 

The comment period started on August 1 and will last 30 days. 

Major contributors to bay pollution are phosphorus and nitrogen.  To reduce the flow of these pollutants into the bay through local watersheds, SHA uses a variety of water quality improvement strategies including stream restoration projects, tree plantings, pavement removal and stormwater management facilities including Bioswale and grass swale installations.  Click here for current Chesapeake Bay restoration projects.

Hard copies of the plan will also be available for review at the main branch of public libraries in the above mentioned counties.  Comments should be submitted to SHA on or before August 31 by emailing to the SHA Office of Environmental Design at wpd@sha.state.md.us, faxing to (410) 209-5003, or mailing to:

State Highway Administration
Office of Environmental Design, C-303
707 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

 

###