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EPA gives Maryland $378,000 for water quality protection

Release Date: 10/16/2003
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has presented a $378,000 grant to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) to support water quality protection programs.

The grant goes to Maryland as part of a performance partnership agreement between EPA and MDE that sets guidelines on how the agencies work together to foster environmental progress.
“With this partnership agreement, EPA and our state partners cooperatively focus our resources to better protect human health and the environment throughout the state of Maryland,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Welsh said the goal of the agreement is to build an environmental management system that is focused on achieving the best results possible, taking full advantage of the unique strengths of each partner.

The grant initiates the EPA’s support of Maryland’s water quality protection efforts that address surface water, ground water, underground injection wells and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. When fully funded, EPA will provide $2.6 million and the state will provide $1.4 million in matching funds.

EPA supports the National Environmental Performance Partnership System, which encourages partnerships between states and EPA. The concept puts a state’s environmental goals in a workable and understandable framework that gives states a stronger role in setting priorities.