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ENVIRONMENT

The West River Watershed encompasses the territory shown on this map.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is 64,000 acres extending from New York to Virginia and including parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

MD Dept. of the Environment

Critical Area Legislation

Dear South County Residents:
I know many of you have been advocating many years for stiffer fines for building and land clearing violations. Please help your neighbors become better informed of these new laws by posting this news release and post the legislation to your web site or in your next newsletter. Have a safe and healthy summer.
http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/Resources/37-04.pdf

Bea Poulin
Community and Constituent Services Specialist
Office of the County Executive
Anne Arundel County
44 Calvert Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-222-1260/301-970-8250
Fax: 410-222-1244
www.aacounty.org

News Release: For Immediate Release

Media Contact:  Pam Jordan
Land Use and Environment Spokesperson
(410) 222-7502  Office
1-877-772-7449 Pager

County Executive Signs Civil Citation Bill

Fines for building and land clearing violations increase significantly

Annapolis (June 25, 2004) - County Executive Janet S. Owens today signed Council Bill 37-04 which passed at Monday night's meeting. Bill 37-04 changes the schedule of fines for violations of the building and grading laws in the County.

Some of the more significant increases in the fines target construction of a pier or bulkhead without a permit, working over a stop work order, and unpermitted disturbance in the critical area. Fines now begin as high at $5,000 for unpermitted work in the critical area, for example, up from $500.00. A schedule of the changes is attached.

The increased fines are intended to discourage people from working without a permit in the critical area, working over a stop work order and working without permits in general.

The laws are enforced by the Department of Inspections and Permits. The public may report land-clearing activities and critical area work that may be in violation of the law by calling that agency at (410) 222-7777, the Environmental Hotline.

The fines were last updated in 2000. This legislation becomes effective August 9, 2004. For further information, visit the Anne Arundel County website at www.aacounty.org.

GREENWAY STUDY

A GREENWAY STUDY in our Area is now being undertaken by the South County Exchange, Located in Lothian: at our 10 Dec Board meeting the guest speaker from the South County Exchange was Earl Bradley. Mr. Bradley said they are looking into identifying parcels of land in the Shady Side Area, where the land owners may be interested in preserving natural areas of parts or all of their property and if accepted would be eligible for property tax breaks and possibly income tax reductions also.

For More Information please contact SSPA President: Linda Andreasen