A series of nine amendments to the O’Malley administration’s septic bill cleared the Senate Friday evening, preserving longstanding control of septic use with local planning authorities.
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| Sen. Thomas Mac Middleton |
“Land use is a very hot topic for local governments, and Maryland statute has always left local zoning to local authorities,” said Sen. Thomas Mac Middleton, D-Charles, who offered the amendments on behalf of the administration. “Those of us who came from local government take that right very seriously.”
The original bill would have centralized decisions over septic use in the Maryland Department of Planning and the Department of the Environment.
Early in the week, the administration feared that rural Democrats and Republicans, historically protective of property rights, would not support the bill.
Liberal Democrats oppose amendments
The amendments were adopted by a 31-14 vote with a core group of liberal Democrats voting against because the new changes would relinquish state control to the counties.
The bill is expected to pass on Monday and then go to the House.
The amendments killed the most controversial provision in the bill that would give the Maryland Department of Planning final decision-making authority over how local jurisdictions establish a four-tier mapping system for septic use.
The amendments also struck down a provision in the bill that would give the Department of the Environment authority to deny permits for major subdivisions on septic systems if local governments had failed to follow the proposed state maps for tiers.
Middleton, a Charles County farmer, brokered the amendments with the administration, the Maryland Association of Counties, and interests representing developers and builders in the days leading up to Friday’s vote.
Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/2012/03/24/omalley-administration-waters-down-septic-control-bill-in-order-to-save-it/#ixzz1qEy52RRp
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