October 16, 2019     

Media Contact: 
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412

SAVAGE, MD – Tomorrow, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will announce major updates to the Howard County Forest Conservation Act, which has not been updated since the 1990s, to bring it into compliance with state law and strengthen environmental regulation. The Maryland Forest Conservation Act was created to minimize the loss of Maryland's forest resources during land development by making the identification and protection of forests an integral part of the site planning process. Ball’s updates will ensure County compliance, increase forest retention and replanting, reduce use of fee-in-lieu, and improve safeguards for the environment.

“Our forests are critical to our natural ecosystems, powerful tools in the fight against climate change, and a necessity for human life,” said Ball. “The state of Maryland passed the Forest Conservation Act to safeguard our forest resources during land development. I firmly believe it is our responsibility to finally make sure Howard County is not only compliant with this legislation, but that we also go further. We must ensure that the future of development in Howard County is smarter, more transparent, and more environmentally conscious. Today, we take a major step forward to protect our forests and our future.”

WHAT:           
Announcement of major updates to development regulations to protect forests

WHEN:           
Thursday, October 17 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:        
Savage Park, Covered Picnic Pavilion 
8400 Fair Street, Savage
 

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