Environmental Protection and Sustainability Overview
Jefferson Building
105 West Chesapeake Avenue
Suite 400
Towson, MD 21204
E-mail: eps@baltimorecountymd.gov
410-887-3733
Vincent J. Gardina, Director
News
Winter Landscaping
Native plants provide the food and habitat for our native wildlife. Take a look outside your window and make notes for this spring's landscaping projects. The Winterberry shrub provides bright red berries, which encourage birds to stop by and snack. Red-Osier dogwoods have cranberry colored twigs and the American Holly provides a dark green background with rosy red berries. Download this list of plants (PDF) that offer attractive and functional landscape ideas to create color for the winter season.
Growing Home
The Growing Home Campaign has reached conclusion; coupons from the Growing Home campaign are no longer being accepted.
Department Functions
Agricultural and Land Preservation
Agricultural and Land Preservation seeks to meet the County’S goal of preserving at least 80,000 acres of working lands through land preservation programs. Assistance is provided to landowners to guide them to the appropriate program whether they have farmland, forest land, natural lands or coastal land. Land preservation programs include the Maryland Environmental Trust, Baltimore County Land Trust Alliance, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program, Rural Legacy or County programs. The Section also serves as liaison to the County Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board that provides technical and policy guidance to the County on agricultural matters.
Capital Program and Operations
Capital Program and Operations works to restore, protect and enhance surface water and improve water quality through a variety of projects and services such as stream restoration, shoreline stabilization, water quality retrofitting, public stormwater management facility maintenance, dredging, submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring, waterway cleanup, and abandoned boat removal.
Development Coordination
Development Coordination is responsible for the coordination and distribution of plans and permits related to land development, building, grading, stormwater management, use and occupancy, zoning, and razing.
Environmental Impact Review
Environmental Impact Review oversees and enforces development plans and building permits for conformance to State mandated Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and Forest Conservation Laws and the County Law for the Protection of Water Quality, Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains.
Groundwater Management
Groundwater Management oversees a variety of regulatory programs related to managing and protecting our ground water resources including the permitting of private water wells, onsite sewage disposal, removal/abandonment of residential underground storage tanks (USTs), building demolition (razing), landfills, and recycling facilities. The Household Hazardous Waste Program is also coordinated through Ground Water Management.
Inspection and Enforcement
Inspection and Enforcement oversees active construction sites for proper grading, and sediment and erosion control compliance and investigates drainage complaints.
Stormwater Engineering
Stormwater Engineering reviews, and inspects grading and stormwater management plans for proposed construction activities and ensures maintenance of privately owned stormwater management facilities.
Sustainability
Sustainability is responsible for multiple resource management programs. Many programs address forest sustainability, such as forest assessments and management plans for County forest lands, reforestation and urban tree planting programs (Tree-Mendous Maryland and Big Trees). Sustainability also encompasses environmental education, including the Green Schools program. Other programs responsible under sustainability include management of an energy efficiency grant (EECBG) from the Department of Energy, a Sustainability Network and intergovernmental coordination for reservoir, coastal zone, and a Master Plan policy.
Watershed Management and Monitoring
Watershed Management and Monitoring , coordinates the municipal NPDES stormwater permit, prepares watershed restoration plans, addresses TMDLs, coordinates the Baltimore Watershed Agreement and monitors Baltimore County’s 14 watersheds for water quality improvements.
In Need of Environmental Assistance?
The EPS Function Brochure (PDF) provides phone numbers and brief descriptions of the services offered by the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.
Revised February 2, 2012
