January 4, 2013 Via Electronic and First Class Mail Mr. Michael Richardson Water Management Administration Maryland Department of the Environment 1800 Washington Boulevard Baltimore, Maryland 21230
[email protected] RE: Comments on Draft General Permit for Discharges from Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities; Discharge Permit No. 12-SW; NPDES Permit No. MDR0000 Dear Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE): Thank you for the opportunity to comment on MDE’s Draft General Permit for Discharges from Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities (Draft Permit or Permit). These comments are submitted on behalf of Blue Water Baltimore, Inc., the Environmental Integrity Project, as well as the other undersigned environmental non-profit organizations. Blue Water Baltimore is a grassroots environmental organization dedicated to restoring the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams and Harbor to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. Specifically, the Baltimore Harbor WATERKEEPER program of Blue Water Baltimore is dedicated to stopping water pollution in the Baltimore Harbor watershed through the use of advocacy, enforcement, education, and water quality monitoring. Baltimore is one of Maryland’s main industrial centers, and consequently, members of Blue Water Baltimore use and enjoy waterways adversely affected by the industrial stormwater discharges regulated by the Draft Permit, including the Jones Falls, Gwynns Falls and Direct Harbor within the Baltimore Harbor/ Patapsco River watershed and the Herring Run within the Back River watershed. 1 The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for more effective enforcement of environmental laws, with a focus on Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.