Duncan Issues County's First Environmental Assessment Of Natural Resources; Celebrates Earth Day

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/eapr.pr 00-167

Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Joe Keyser, 240-777-7700

For Immediate Release: April 20, 2000

DUNCAN ISSUES COUNTY'S FIRST
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES; CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today released the Environmental Assessment 2000, a report that, for the first time, comprehensively evaluates key indicators of environmental conditions in the County. The indicators will serve as a benchmark for measuring future progress, be used to identify significant trends, and help determine new programmatic goals and initiatives.

"It is my firm belief that there are few missions more important to government than the protection of our natural resources," said Duncan. "Montgomery County has proven to be a leader in environmental protection and in developing innovative approaches to safeguarding both our resources and our quality of life. It is fitting that on this 30th anniversary of Earth Day, we evaluate the effectiveness of our resource protection programs and set our course for future improvements in the years to come."

Environmental Assessment 2000 identifies significant resource concerns throughout the County in key areas, including agriculture, air quality, biodiversity, energy, groundwater, hazardous material, noise, transportation, solid waste and recycling, and watershed quality. Within each key area, individual indicators have been identified that measure and explain baseline environmental conditions in the County.

The indicators are considered a foundation for guiding future improvements to the environment. The data will be updated and refined on a routine basis so that the County can prepare environmental report cards in the future that chart its progress.

"The Environmental Assessment 2000 will give us the tools to more effectively direct efforts and expenditures to preserve our environmental resources and ensure a healthy environment," said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Director James Caldwell. "And, the Assessment lets the public know how we're doing and whether our hard work to protect our resources is paying off."

Citizen advisory committees, including the Air and Energy Advisory Committee, the Noise Control Advisory Board, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Water Quality Advisory Group, and other County agencies, regional groups, and dedicated individuals helped develop and review the environmental indicators.

"Citizens in Montgomery County care about protecting the environment," said Audubon Naturalist Society Conservation Director Neal Fitzpatrick. "The County Executive deserves credit for getting the environmental assessment process started. The real value of looking at environmental trends is to take actions that lead to improvements and to protecting sensitive resources."

DEP will continuously update the report as new data is collected, and the new information will be featured on the County's website. Residents, businesses and the agencies responsible for the various environmental measures will be able to comment on the Assessment on the website.

The report also contains information on what citizens can do to help improve the key environmental indicators in the County.

For more information, contact the Department of Environmental Protection at 240-777-7700 or view the Assessment at www.askDEP.com.

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