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04.12.11
Bill to Stop Natural Gas Drilling Fails, Along with Other Environmental Legislation

A bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation while an environmental impact study was completed stalled in the Senate this legislative session after easily passing the House.

04.07.11
No Offshore Wind Bill for O'Malley

Gov. Martin O'Malley's key piece of green legislation this session was effectively killed for the year after being held for study in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.

03.29.11
A Boatload of Poaching Legislation in the House and Senate

By Kerry Davis Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS -- A bevy of poaching bills is making its way through the House and Senate, highlighting divisions among lawmakers who are trying to address poaching problems in different ways.

03.23.11
O'Malley Rallies for Offshore Wind as Likelihood of Passage Wanes

Gov. Martin O'Malley rallied about 40 supporters of offshore wind energy on Wednesday, urging them to join him in one last chant that they hope will reach the ears of key committee legislators in Annapolis - "Pass the Bill!"

03.22.11
Marcellus Shale Drilling Moratorium Poised For House Passage

Legislation to create a temporary moratorium on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland's Marcellus Shale deposits appears poised for passage in the House of Delegates.

04.07.10
Watermen Demonstrate to Delay Oyster Sanctuaries

By BRADY HOLT Capital News Service Wednesday, April 7, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - Maryland's watermen returned to Annapolis Wednesday to support a bill that would increase penalties on oyster poachers and delay the state from designating additional portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as oyster sanctuaries.

03.16.10
Poultry Farmers Resist Bill to Ban Arsenic in Chicken Feed

By JENNIFER HLAD Capital News Service Tuesday, March 16, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - The state attorney general and some legislators in both houses are backing a ban on arsenic in chicken feed, a move they say will help poultry farmers and the environment.

But industry representatives say the measure would disadvantage Maryland farmers and result in more sick chickens.

03.12.10
Natural Resources Police, Legislators Crack Down on Oyster Poachers

By JENNIFER HLAD Capital News Service Friday, March 12, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - For 20 years, Roy Rafter made his living as a waterman, catching fish, crabs and oysters. Now, Rafter spends hours in a dark boat, working to catch poachers.

"It's kind of like fishing. Sometimes you catch them, sometimes you don't," said Rafter, a Natural Resources Police corporal, as he finished up a predawn patrol of the Chesapeake Bay Wednesday morning.

02.16.10
Senate President Proposes Chesapeake Conservation Corps

By JENNIFER HLAD Capital News Service Tuesday, February 16, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr. said his bill to create a Chesapeake Conservation Corps accomplishes the second of the two most important legislative priorities this year: balancing the budget and creating jobs.

But Sen. Andy Harris, R-Baltimore County, says it fails at the first.

Miller, D-Calvert, touted his bill at a Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee hearing Tuesday, saying it is "about creating jobs for young people."

02.02.10
Bill Would Ban BPA in Children's Products

By JENNIFER HLAD Capital News Service Tuesday, February 2, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - Child and family advocates, nurses, environmental organizations and business representatives Tuesday urged a Maryland House committee to support a bill banning a common chemical from infant and children's products.

The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of products containing bisphenol-A, for children younger than 4.

01.19.10
Watermen Fight to Protect Oyster Harvesting Techniques

ANNAPOLIS - More than 150 watermen took a day off from the water Tuesday to protest a proposed oyster restoration plan and support a bill they say will help them hang on to their livelihood.

10.30.09
Feds to Pour $50M into Chesapeake Bay

By ALEKSANDRA ROBINSON Capital News Service Friday, October 30, 2009

WASHINGTON - The Chesapeake Bay is slated to get $50 million in funding thanks to an appropriations bill that passed the Senate last night and awaits President Obama's signature.

09.08.09
Environmentalists Welcome Senators With Windmills

By ALEKSANDRA ROBINSON Capital News Service Tuesday, September 8, 2009

WASHINGTON - Environmental activists pretended to build tiny wind turbines in the Hart Senate Office Building here Tuesday to call attention to clean energy legislation on the same day senators were set to return from their August recess.

"We're holding this creative demonstration to welcome the Senate back," said Anne Havemann, of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the organizations sponsoring the rally. Avaaz Climate Action Factory and the Energy Action Coalition also sponsored the event.