Water Quality Working Group Named

Yesterday we named ten knowledgeable and committed people to the ad hoc Water Quality Working Group which will monitor environmental issues in Clarksburg as development continues in that emerging part of the county. The group will collect information on all new and pending state and federal regulations regarding water quality, stormwater management and sediment control to analyze how these new requirements will impact future development in Clarksburg. The group also will make recommendations to improve development procedures to ensure minimal impact on the area’s water quality, formulating a report to the Council by Feb. 1, 2010.

They are going to have a challenging task because the world of water quality is changing rapidly. As chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, I know that water quality issues as a whole are complicated and are in the process of evolving further, so it is great that these folks will be able to focus their attention on working though the complexities. I’m convinced this group of experts and advocates in the environmental/water quality field will provide us with meaningful insights for our decision-making going forward.

I offer my thanks and congratulations to these newly appointed members:

Rick Brush of the Department of Permitting Services
Diane Cameron of Stormwater Partners
Irene Carrato, a civil engineer
John Cook, a Clarksburg environmental activist
Carl Elefane, a sustainability architect
Keith Levchenko, an analyst on environmental issues for the County Council
Mark Pfefferle of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Dusty Rood, an environmental specialist and vice chair of the Montgomery County Water Quality Advisory Committee
Steve Shofar of the Department of Environmental Protection
Richard Thometz, a residential home energy consultant