GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE, SENATE COMMITTEES IN SUPPORT OF RESTRICTIONS ON NEW SEPTIC SUBDIVISIONS

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will testify today before the House Environmental Matters Committee and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011, a measure which would restrict the use of polluting septic systems in new, major subdivisions in Maryland.

Maryland has approximately 426,000 septic systems on developed parcels and roughly 411,000 of these are on residential parcels. Yesterday, Governor O’Malley traveled to Goldsboro to wade into Lake Bonnie, where high bacteria levels in the lake have been linked to failing septic systems, an example of how failure to manage the long-term and far-reaching consequences of septic systems can impact the public health and economic health of Maryland's rural communities.

Governor O’Malley will testify first before the House Environmental Matters Committee, and then the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to testify in support of septic system restrictions on new, major subdivisions

WHEN:           TODAY, Friday, March 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

                        The Governor will testify first on the House side, then the Senate side.

WHERE:         House Environmental Matters Committee

                        House Office Building

Room 251

Annapolis, MD

Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee

Miller Senate Building

2 West

Annapolis, MD