Draft TMDL for Baltimore Harbor Now Available!

At long last, the Maryland Department of the Environment has released the draft of the trash Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Baltimore Harbor. The regulations described in this document aim to reduce the amount of trash and floatable debris in the middle and northwest branches of the Harbor, fed by the Jones Falls and Gwynns Falls watersheds. The limits are designed to return the Harbor to compliance under the Clean Water Act, by reducing trash to levels that the Harbor ecology can resolve on its own.

We are reviewing the document and will be preparing comments. The draft TMDL is available for download here and as we complete our review we will post summaries and key points for comment here. Please check back!

Public comments are due October 12 to Melissa Chatham at MDE, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230 or mchatham@mde.state.md.us. An informational briefing will be held on Friday, September 21, from 1 to 3 pm at MDE's offices, also at 1800 Washington Boulevard.