Action Alert for Ten Mile Creek

From our friends at Montgomery Countryside Alliance:

On December 3rd and 5th - the Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing on Clarksburg's Ten Mile Creek, the county's last, best creek and the backup drinking water supply for you, me and  4.3 million other DC area residents.

At the October Planning Board Hearing, Board members voted to allow more than 650 residential units and the area's second outlet mall in the headwaters of the creek- all while Clarksburg goes without basic services like a grocery store. Despite your calls and emails, the Planning Board caved to threats of lawsuits from the developers and chose a course that is scientifically proven to degrade our water supply.

We have one more chance- the decision moves to the County Council next week. Incredibly, we understand that some members of the Council do not see the need to provide protection for our water resources before land use decisions are made.  We need your help in urging them to consider the 4.3 million people that depend on this water supply and the Clarksburg residents that were promised a liveable community, not more sprawl. More Background HERE

Take Action Now:   

Call or email the County Council (Contact and Talking Points Here) members to let them know that the threat of lawsuits shouldn't decide how we protect our water- science should.

Attend the Hearings:  

December 3rd and 5th - 7:30 pm in the Council Office Building, Rockville

We understand you can still sign up to testify on the 5th.  Call 240-777-7803 to get on the list.

Even if you are not speaking- please attend to show your support



What Ten Mile Creek Supporters are Saying:   

 "It makes no sense to target a sensitive watershed for houses and malls. Please guide and temper the county's growth with reason and care."

"I am 17 and I want to be able to drink the water when I am 40."

 "Can't we just have one clean creek?"   

Bag Bill Saved!

This is just in from Julie Lawson at Trash Free Maryland.  Roger Berliner has decided not to present his bill that would exempt department stores and carry-outs from the five cent bag fee.  See below for details from Julie's email.  Thanks to everyone who sent letters and testified and reminding the council that environmentalist care and vote!
 

Hi, everyone-

I didn't even have time to put together a summary on Monday's committee work session before finding out the fantastic news that we have again successfully held back this amendment to weaken the disposable bag fee!

As reported on WTOP this morning, Roger Berliner is not scheduling the bill for consideration by the full County Council at this time, at the request of County Executive Ike Leggett. Read more here:

http://www.wtop.com/41/3497052/Montgomery-County-bag-tax-stays---for-now

The work session on Monday was heated, with representatives of the County Executive's office and the Department of Environmental Protection arguing with members of the T&E committee that any amendments to the bill were premature and not based on real evidence of problems. Read coverage of that session here:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/11/montgomery-county-discusses-bag-tax-96387.html

http://wamu.org/news/13/11/04/bag_tax_rollback_considered_in_montgomery_county

http://www.gazette.net/article/20131104/NEWS/131109730/1279/news&source=RSS&template=gazette

So, we are back to the holding pattern we have been in all summer and fall. Meanwhile, I encourage you to send a quick note to Mr. Leggett (ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov) thanking him for his leadership, and also to Mr. Berliner (councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov) for listening to the concerns and agreeing to give it more time for real data to be collected.

Thanks to all who contributed cleanup data, testified, wrote letters, and informed your members. I'll definitely keep you posted.

-Julie

Julie Lawson

Director, Trash Free Maryland Alliance

www.trashfreemaryland.org

Saving the world, one bag at a time!  We can make a difference for a healthier earth.