Clean Water Fund Bills Stall

Local lawmakers’ effort to ensure water pollution fines go to helping the environment failed in the General Assembly.

But a measure requiring the state to give an annual public accounting of how the fines are spent is moving forward.

Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena, and Del. Cathy Vitale, R-Severna Park, said they were inspired to reform the Maryland Clean Water Fund after The Capital reported last summer that most of the money in the fund is spent on salaries and administrative costs at the Maryland Department of the Environment.

The Maryland Clean Water Fund gets its money from permit fees and fines for water pollution violations.
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