What can you do to reduce manure pollution to the Bay? Proposed PMT – best opportunity in 30 years!
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has published proposed regulations to implement the long-awaited and much-needed Phosphorous Management Tool (PMT). The PMT would play a vital role in reducing pollution in the Bay by helping prevent excessive amounts of phosphorous contained in manure from being applied to farm fields.
Manure contaminates local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay and threatens public health. It chokes our waters of the necessary oxygen to support crabs, oysters and other aquatic life and causes toxic algae blooms. Numerous studies show that phosphorus pollution from manure is getting worse, not better.
What you can do:
Submit comments in support of the PMT by December 31, 2014 to Earl F. Hance, Secretary, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Suite 303, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, or call 410-841-5881, or email to Earl.Hance@maryland.gov, or fax to 410-841-5914.
Urge members of the Maryland Administrative, Executive & Legislative Review committee to Support the PMT – http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/07leg/html/com/02aelr.html
Read a press release from the Maryland Clean Agriculture Coalition explaining the importance of the PMT HERE.
To Learn More:
– Check out a fact sheet for more information about the Phosphorus Management Tool
– Read the proposed regulations here: http://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/Proposed-Regulations.aspx
– View the infographic “How Manure is Contaminating Maryland Waters & the Chesapeake Bay”
– Read a Baltimore Sun editorial “Phosphorus rules, finally”