Resources: Legislation and Montgomery County Policy Documents

Below is a list with links to laws and programs dealing with environmental protection in Montgomery County.

Climate and Energy

Link to the comprehensive Montgomery County, MD Climate Protection Plan

A Listing of Montgomery County Climate Protection Laws:

Stormwater management and watershed protection

Countywide Stream Protection Strategy: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/dep/downloads/CSPS2003.pdf
Maryland Stormwater Program: http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/WaterPrograms/SedimentandStormwater/index.asp

Montgomery County Stormwater Management Program:

2005 Legislation to minimize stormwater runoff onto adjacent properties:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/SCANNED_DOCS/20061017_res26-05.pdf

NPDES Permit and Montgomery Stormwater 101: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/Content/dep/water/npdes.asp
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/content/dep/water/stormwater.asp#law

2010 Legislation on the Water Quality Protection Charge:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2010/20100519_11-10a.pdf

Bill 40-10E on Environmental Site Design. To find the bill signed into law July of 2010, visit:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2010/20100727_40-10A.pdf

Forests and trees

Maryland Forest Conservation Act: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programapps/newFCA.asp

Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law:
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/environment/forest/documents/Chapter22Arevised2007.pdf
http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/environment/forest/index.shtm#ProposedForestLaw

2003 Legislation exempting equestrian facilities from certain Forest Conservation Law requirements:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2003/29-03.pdf

2005 Legislation setting higher penalties for violations of the Forest Conservation Law, aka “the Snyder bill”:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2005/27-05.pdf

2006 Legislation to amend the Forest Conservation Law and protect champion trees:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/SCANNED_DOCS/20061017_res45-06.pdf

State Roadside Tree Law (law regulating roadside trees in Montgomery County. Note: The County Department of Transportation has the county street tree program under its jurisdiction.): http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programapps/newrtlaw.asp

Here are some recent changes to the State Forest Conservation Act http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/environment/documents/NoticetopubliconchangestoforestconservationlawasaresultofBill666.pdf

2007 Legislation to amend the Forest Conservation Law for religious institutions:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2007/20070808_15-07.pdf

2008 Legislation establishing a Montgomery County Forest Conservation Advisory Committee:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2008/14-08.pdf

2010 Legislation to improve enforcement of the county Forest Conservation Law:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2010/20100316_34-09.pdf

2010 County Legislation reducing the threshold for the amount of forest cleared to comply with State law: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2010/20101130_53-10A.pdf

County Growth Policy

2010 Legislation to modify the purpose and process involved for the County Growth Policy:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/bill/2010/20100720_38-09.pdf