Q. How do we know that Baltimore County's restaurants are safe? A. Restaurants in Baltimore County are routinely inspected per their priority rating as required by Baltimore County Food Service Facilities Regulations and CODE OF MARYLAND REGULATIONS - 10.15.03 - Food Service Facilities. These inspections are unannounced and include evaluations of food handling techniques and the physical condition of the facility. All complaints concerning Food Service Facilities are investigated and if the complainants are known, they will be contacted and given the results of the investigations. Any complaints, concerns and/or questions should be referred to the Environmental Health Section at 410-887-4065. Q. How do I open a new Food Service Facility? A. Anyone desiring to open a new Food Service Facility or wishing to change the type of service at an existing facility should contact the Environmental Health Section's Food Plans Review Program at 410-887-4068 for specific requirements. Building plans and specifications, as well as menu and food protection information will be required to be submitted to this Office. In addition, a prospective facility owner/operator should also contact the Department of Permits and Development Management at 410-887-3353 to ascertain what information they require prior to the issuance of any licenses or permits. Q. What Services does DEPRM offer? A. We respond to and investigate issues and complaints related to the following to insure that problems are corrected and good environmental practices are followed: - Agricultural Preservation
- Capital Improvements, Waterway Restoration, Stream Restoration
- Community Reforestation Program
- Development Coordination
- Environmental Health, Food Plans Review, Food Facility Inspection, Household Hazardous Waste Program
- Green Schools program
- Environmental Impact Review, Critical Areas and Marinas
- Groundwater Management
- Growing Home Campaign
- Sediment Control Inspection and Enforcement
- Tree-mendous Maryland Program
- Policy, Education, Research & Communication
- Stormwater Engineering
- Watershed Management & Monitoring
- Recreational Waters and Bathing Beach Monitoring Program
Q. How do I deal with paints and household chemicals? A. The Household Hazardous Waste Program should be contacted at 410-887-3745 for information concerning the proper storage and handling of household chemicals and for the dates, times and locations of the drop-off centers and collection events in their area. Wastes include: automotive fluids, paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, solvents, etc. Q. What is the cost of a well permit? A. The cost for the permit is $80 and may only be obtained through a well driller licensed in the State of Maryland. Q. How do I arrange for a percolation test? A. First, a perc application must be filled out and submitted to the Department of Permits and Development Management (PDM) along with a $60 fee for each lot and 4 copies of a map (scaled 1:100) of the property showing property lines, topography & nearby streams. Once the application has been reviewed and approved by Department of Environmental Protection & Resource Management (DEPRM), the property owner needs to hire the services of a backhoe operator who will then schedule an appointment to perform the tests with a DEPRM sanitarian. Q. What are the setback requirements for wells and septic systems on newly developed properties? A. Wells must be 10 ft. from a property line; 15 ft. from a road or dedicated right-of-way; 30 ft. from any building foundation; and 100 ft. from sewage disposal areas or other sources of contamination. The septic reserve area must be 10,000 square ft. and located at least 20 ft. from any building foundation, and 10 ft. from property lines. Q. For the purpose of property transfer, how long are well yield tests and water quality tests valid?
A. Well yield tests are valid for 3 years; water quality tests are valid for 180 days. Q. When will my storm water management pond be mowed? A. Baltimore County owned and maintained stormwater management ponds are considered environmentally sensitive areas. By State mandate, DEPRM is required to inspect each stormwater facility at least once every three years. As a result of the inspection, any maintenance required for proper function is scheduled. The vegetation around and in these facilities is only maintained to ensure proper function. These ponds are natural areas and vegetation is left as such.
Q. What can I do to protect my farm? What preservations programs are available? A. Baltimore County is a leader in land preservation. There are a variety of County, State and private programs to assist landowners in this effort. For purchase of Development Right Programs, contact DEPRM at 410-887-3776. For donation of Development Right Programs and information on private land trusts, contact the Maryland Environmental Trust at 410-514-7909. Q. As a landowner, how can I best protect water/stream quality? A. Many activities can degrade water quality, from forest harvesting to land development to dumping of anything into waterways, including storm drains. Landowners can use a variety of "Bay friendly" practices to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, such as minimizing the amount of paved surfaces and planting trees and shrubs to reduce the amount of lawn area. Along streams, landowners can help by reducing mowing as far as possible from streams and by allowing natural vegetation to grow. These stream "buffers" help control runoff, filter pollutants, stabilize stream banks, and provide wildlife habitat. For more information, call PCRE at 410-887-5683.
Q. What information programs and volunteer opportunities are available through DEPRM? A. DEPRM's Let's Be Partners...Water Pollution: What We Can Do To Reduce and Prevent It" is an education program that provides information about water quality issues to community groups, schools, and other citizen organizations. The program introduces and encourages the adoption of environmentally sound practices that can be used around the home and in communities. Call 410-887-4488, ext. 251 for more information about Let's Be Partners. DEPRM also works with community organizations to address water quality issues in local streams. Save Our Streams, in cooperation with DEPRM, established the Citizens for Stream Restoration Campaign in 1989. The Campaign includes Adopt-A-Stream activities that are designed to protect and improve the quality of Baltimore County streams. Through the Campaign, Save Our Streams supports community volunteer activities such as stream clean-ups, storm drain stenciling, tree planting, and stream monitoring. For more information about getting involved in a stream project, call Save Our Streams at 410-766-9443 or visit their website at www.saveourstreams.org. Q. How does the County monitor stream quality and can citizens participate? A. Monitoring the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the County's 2100 miles of streams would be nearly impossible on a frequent basis. The State has a long-term general monitoring program at several sites in the County that is useful for detecting changes over time, and Baltimore County conducts more intensive, short-term stream monitoring as part of special watershed projects. Citizens can help monitor the biological condition of streams at more than 100 locations as part of Baltimore County Project Heartbeat, coordinated by Save Our Streams. This monitoring, which involves collecting stream-bottom aquatic insects in a net, is a fun activity that is suitable for the young and young at heart. For information about stream water quality, contact DEPRM at 410-887-5683, or for Baltimore County Project Heartbeat monitoring, call Save Our Streams at 410-766-9443 or visit their website at www.saveourstreams.org. Q. What can I do about large floating debris and abandoned boats? A. DEPRM should be contacted if large floating debris is sighted in County waterways. County assistance may also be available for property owners for removal of sunken or derelict boats. To report debris, abandoned boats or for information about boat removal, call 410-887-2904.
Q. When is it necessary to have a grading permit? A. If the proposed grading disturbs over 5,000 square feet of surface area or over 100 cubic yards of fill material is utilized, a permit is required. Q. Can small amounts of grading be done anywhere? A. No, State and county regulations protect environmentally sensitive areas, i.e., tidal waters and marshes, watercourses, wetlands, floodplains, stream and forest buffers, and habitat protection areas. Q. Are construction sites required to prevent sediment run-off? A. Yes, State and County regulations require property owners and holders of permits to install measures that will filter water run-off. Q. If a construction site appears to have installed sediment control devices, does it mean they are not working if muddy water leaves the site? A. No, sediment control measures provide temporary retention to allow deposition of heavier sediment particles, fine particles remain in suspension and discolor the water run-off. Q. Who decides what kind of sediment control practice is used on large projects? A. Large projects are designed by professional engineers hired by the landowner. A plan is designed based on standards and specifications for soil erosion and sediment control from the Maryland Department of Environment. Baltimore County's Soil Conservation District reviews and approves the plan and Baltimore County inspects the actual work for compliance with the plan. Return to Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management Main Page Revised March 25, 2009 | 
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