How Pollution Limits Encourage Jobs in the Chesapeake Bay Region

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, home to a dazzling spectrum of spe- cies and an engine for the region’s economy estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion dollars.1 But pollution continues to cause serious damage to the nation’s largest estuary, as shown by beach closures, fish consumption advisories, harm- ful algal blooms, and other afflictions.2

In December 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re- leased new pollution limits for the Chesapeake Bay to accelerate its cleanup and the recovery of jobs which rely on clean water. The Chesa- peake Bay “Total Maximum Daily Load,” or TMDL, requires water- shed states to reduce pollution flowing into the estuary by 25 percent by 2025 3,4 and pushes the states to follow through with clean-up promises they made in 2010, based on previous plans called Tributary Strategies, which were released in 2004 and 2005. Almost as soon as these pollution limits were an- nounced, however, they were attacked as “job killers” by national agricultural and homebuilder lobbyists and their political allies.5

This rhetoric was part of a broad assault on environ- mental regulations, in general, spearheaded by some members of the U.S. House of Representatives.6

Sweeping assertions about economic ruin caused by environmental regulations are nothing new, and many economists7 have concluded that there is no substance to them.8 Claims that a good quality of life demands a tradeoff between jobs and the environment have repeatedly been proven false9 over the last four decades. In 1976, for example, Henry Ford II warned that clean air and fuel- efficiency standards would “shut down” the Ford Motor Company.10 Thirty-five years later, Ford not only remains in business, it ranks number 10 on the For- tune 500 list, with profits of $6.5 billion in 2010.11 The company is now mar- keting zero-emission electric cars with a sales pitch that they will “reduce your carbon footprint.”12

Critics of 1990 federal Clean Air Act Amendments asserted that tighter air-pol- lution limits would mean “a quiet death for businesses across the country.”13 But these gloomy forecasts did not come true, and in the end, the amend- ments produced a benefit-to-investment ratio of more than 40 to 1, including over $70 billion in human health benefits annually and a significant reduction in acid-rain pollution.14

Debunking the “Job Killer” Myth: How Pollution Limits Encourage Jobs in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, deCemBer 2011cbf.org/tmdl 1

43 Percent:

The increase in the number of environmental industry jobs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia over the last two decades. Source: Environmental Business International

The cries about Bay pollution limits are a variation on this old song.

This report presents several examples of job creation that have already grown and will likely expand in the Chesapeake region because of water-pollution limits:

 Overall, the number of environmental clean-up and monitoring jobs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia has surged 43 percent over the last two de- cades, from 98,000 jobs in 1990 to 140,000 jobs in 2009, with a significant portion of this growth com- ing from required sewage and water system improve- ment projects.15

 Construction is underway in Montgomery County, Maryland, on $305 million in stormwater pollution control projects that will create 3,300 construction and engineering jobs.16 Similar stormwater projects could provide work for 178,000 full-time-equivalent jobs across the region over the next five years, includ- ing 36,000 jobs in Maryland, 10,000 in the District

of Columbia, 80,000 in Pennsylvania, and 52,000 in Virginia, according to a projection by the Economic Policy Institute.17

 Among several sewage plant upgrade projects across the region, 118 con- struction workers, engineers, and others are employed in a $63 million project to reduce pollution from the Noman Cole Pollution Control Plant in Fairfax County, Virginia.18 Virginia and Maryland officials plan to invest a combined total of $3 billion19 improving sewage plants over more than a decade, with each billion invested resulting in 20,000 construction-related jobs.20

 Most of the farms in Pennsylvania’s part of the Chesapeake Bay wa- tershed (40,000 farms21) could also create jobs by implement- ing a variety of runoff- and pollution-control practices like this.22 For example, 25 contractors, excavators, and others worked to build manure management pits and a state-of-the-art barn for a dairy farm in Thomas- ville, Pennsylvania.23 The new facilities will reduce runoff of manure into a nearby stream as they help the farmer meet state requirements to maintain a manure management plan.

 About 11,751 temporary jobs are expected to be created over five years if Virginia and the federal governments invest $804 million in farm runoff- control projects such as planting trees and building fences along streams to meet Bay-pollution goals, according to a University of Virginia report.24

It is difficult to predict exactly how many job opportunities will spring up be-

Debunking the “Job Killer” Myth: How Pollution Limits Encourage Jobs in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, deCemBer 2011cbf.org/tmdl 2

ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY JOB GROWTH

100 80 60 40 20

0 ’90 ’00 ’09

MARYLAND

’90 ’00 ’09

VIRGINIA

’90 ’00 ’09

PENNSYLVANIA

Jobs in environmental industries such as sewage plant construc- tion, pollution cleanup, site testing, etc.

Source: Environmental Business International, Inc.

THOUSANDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS

cause of projects driven by the Chesapeake Bay pollution limits.25 Innovation will likely inspire the birth of a wide variety of new firms that will hire employees for everything from pollution-credit trad- ing,26 to building high-tech barns, low-runoff hous- ing developments, green roofs, and stormwater-con- trol systems that look like gardens beside the road.

Harvard Business School Economist Dr. Michael Por- ter argued in a ground-breaking article in Scientific American more than 20 years ago that well-designed environmental regulations could actually enhance the competitiveness of businesses by encouraging in- novation and by improving the efficiency with which businesses use natural resources. “Strict environmen- tal regulations do not inevitably hinder competitive advantage against rivals; indeed, they often enhance it,” Porter wrote in 1991.27

Cleaner water also will mean more fish, crabs, and oysters, which will translate to more work and income for fishermen, processors, packers, restaurateurs, and people in tourism-related industries. If history is any guide, environmental regu- lations will once again nourish job creation, not bury it.

Read full report here.

Wednesday November 16th @ 6pm
Frederick County Planning Commission Public Hearing on the 43 proposals for land development in the New Market region
(sign up to speak at 5pm), Winchester Hall (12 E Church Street, downtown Frederick, 1st floor)

There is no need for additional residential or commercial zoning.

Frederick County’s 20-year growth plan (2010-2030) meets state growth projections with zoning for development of 36,264 homes and over 3000 acres for commercial build out. Existing land use plans are sufficient to build a robust economy while preserving the quality of life for Frederick County residents.

What you should know about these land use change requests:
• Total potential land conversion: 2,973 acres
• Potential number of homes: 4,994
• Number of kids added to FCPS in New Market: 2712 kids
• Number of car trips/day added to local roads: 47,793 car trips
• Area to be built on well and septic: 348 acres

Consider this…

• Cost of new schools will be paid in large part by taxpayers (you)
Elementary school construction cost: $25 million (700 student capacity)
Middle school construction cost: $45 million (900 student capacity)
High school construction cost: $70 million (1600 student capacity)

• Cost for new roads will be paid in large part by taxpayers (you). Frederick County needs $3.5 billion to resolve its current road crisis. The BOCC just zeroed the excise tax, a source for road and bridge maintenance and construction.

If you can’t make it to the public hearing, you can send a letter to Frederick County Planning Commissioners:

John McClurkin, Chair, samjbm@verizon.net
Richard Floyd, Vice-Chair, rmfloyd1@aol.com
Robert Lawrence, Secretary, Boblawrence5753@comcast.net
Catherine Forrence, 404westmain@comcast.net
Robert White Jr., bobwhitejr@mac.com
Audrey Wolfe, al_wolfe@verizon.net

Cc: Jim Gugel, Chief Planner jgugel@frederickcountymd.gov

Have a friend come to the hearing and read it in to the record!

Data table from PlanMaryland (page 2-27).

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/storyTools/print_archive_story.htm?storyID=129346, published August 31, 2011

The Frederick News-Post’s Aug. 26 editorial falsely portrays PlanMaryland in shades of red and blue. Plan Maryland is not about pitting Republicans against Democrats, nor is it about property rights. It is about sound decision-making and building communities where they make the most sense.Local governments have a poor track record in land-use decisions. Dangerous roads, overcrowded schools and the over-reliance on sand-mound technology are all testaments to bad local land-use decisions.

When politically expedient, local politicians frequently ignore comprehensive plans. Commissioner Blaine Young’s recent decision to reopen Frederick County’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan — as a prelude to rezoning for sprawling development of open space and farmland — is only the latest example of how politics can trump sound land-use planning.

But Frederick County is not alone. Examples can be found in counties all across Maryland, which is why Annapolis is stepping in to bring some order to the chaos. A civil society is based on rules. Right now too few follow the rules when it comes to land-use decisions and development, and instead opt for shortsighted monetary gain for a select few property owners and developers.

Why should you care? Sprawl development is expensive, and in Frederick County has invariably led to higher taxes and a decline in public services and facilities. That’s why you spend so much time on congested roads that are unsafe and in disrepair; why our schools are chronically overcrowded and often desperately in need of renovation; and why your tax bills keep going up to pay the bills that development leaves behind.

But so-called “business-friendly” politicians are far more interested in catering to a very small group of large property owners and out-of-state developers than thoughtfully assessing the impacts of sprawl on tens of thousands of existing residents.

Efforts by Annapolis to strongly encourage sound planning are long overdue.

WILLIAM MORROW

Emmitsburg

Over the next 20 years, there will be nearly 1,000,000 more people, over 400,000 additional households and over 600,000 new jobs in Maryland.Where will all these people live and work, how will they get to their jobs?

Read more – and express your opinion to the local paper!.  Share this information.  It is the future of our bucolic county, its farmland, our water and air quality, our budget and overall quality of life.

The Potomac River flooded last week and crested the C/O canal in multiple locations. This high water event will cause fish to be become stranded and trapped in the  normally dry C/O canal….ultimately killing them as the water slowly drains back out.I am in need of a few volunteers.  This same event happened last spring and recovery efforts saved thousands of fish.

Interested parties can email me at fishpotomac@ msn.com ASAP.   As always..questions,concerns? EMAIL ME.

Thanks,
Ben Hynes
fishpotomac@msn.com

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) threatens to change Village Center zoning that currently allows appropriate development in historic communities.   The change to our Village Center zoning category will allow giant footprint building – like big box stores or – for example – a **Food Lion in Jefferson** (an average Food Lion is 33,000 sq. ft). The change will destroy the entire Village Center concept. On May 17th 7pm at Winchester Hall the Board of County Commissioner will hear out the public on this.

Please note that instead of reviewing individual cases the BOCC will be voting on seven different text amendments bundled together in this package…which will be voted up or down in one vote. This is wholly inappropriate for such a diversity of text amendments.

Two other sections in this text amendment need serious review and modification:

• Allowing a limited landscape contractor in an agricultural zone whereby the screening requirements are inadequate, and there is no limitation on the size and type of equipment which can be stored outside.
• Allowing private parks – outdoor recreational areas – in an agricultural zone whereby there is no limit placed on the size and scope of allowable accessory uses. This could lead to large restaurants, stores for sale of outdoor wear, etc. in an Ag zone as accessory uses.

IF you have questions please write to: <friends@friendsoffrederickcounty.org>. We will help answer them.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned last night and there is little to celebrate this year.  Unfortunately the legislature failed to enact significant protections for Marylanders’ water, air, and public health. Legislators missed many opportunities to make long-term investments in Maryland, leaving Maryland LCV, many in the environmental community, and citizens all across the state frustrated by the lack of political will.

On a positive note, the General Assembly was strong on the budget, including $23.5 million for the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and preserving most of the funding for Program Open Space.

Read our full  2011 Environmental Legislative Wrap-Up online for the full story and let us know what you think.

Thank you for all your work this session. Your emails, phone calls, visits, and attendance at the environmental summit helped us pass laws to protect our air, land, and water. We couldn’t have done it without you!