Comment letter on Maryland emergency legislation on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits

Staff from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future testified in opposition to legislation (S.B. 0371/ H.B. 0395) that would allow construction of new CAFOs without first obtaining a general discharge permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment. The comment noted concern about creating a permanent regulatory rollback that would undermine the state’s duty to protect the health of Marylanders. As introduced, the bill would eliminate a critical oversight tool and undermine community engagement. See the link to the full publication for both the House of Delegates and Senate versions of the testimony.