As many of you know, there has been much controversy about the proposed Cross County Connector to be built through the Mattawoman Watershed.  I have written a letter to Secretary Shari Wilson of the Maryland Department of the Environment and have had this letter printed in the Maryland Independent.

Secretary Shari Wilson

Maryland Department of the Environment

1800 Washington Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Dear Secretary Wilson:

The Charles County Commissioners and three of the five members of the Charles County Delegation recently held a closed meeting pertaining to the Cross County Connector.  I did not attend.  First because I had a previous commitment and typically I do not “bump” appointments, but also because I don’t support a meeting of this type on such an important issue.  As you know, if this project moves forward it will have a significant impact on our environment and subsequently the quality of life in general for the citizens of Charles County.  Therefore, I believe all those interested should be involved in open discussions regarding the status of this project.

Following the meeting a newspaper article appeared and in part stated that “We (the County) have been jerked around by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of the Environment.”  Please know that I do not share that view and in fact applaud you for your efforts to ensure that all factors have been considered before any decision can be made.  Whether this project is granted the necessary permits to move forward or not, I fully support an outcome that is based on merit and science and not influenced or determined by politics.

I encourage you to resist any attempts to influence your decisions based on anything other than what can be supported by sound and defensible data.

As an elected official, I take seriously my responsibility to represent my constituents regarding this potential project.  The results of a recent poll indicate that the majority of residents do not support this highway based on the price tag of tens of millions of dollars of County funding and the potential negative impact it will have on the Mattawoman watershed as well as the Chesapeake Bay.  Therefore, I respectfully request that you continue to follow your standard process without regard to political pressure and deliver an outcome that best serves the future of our County.

Thank you for your dedication and professionalism regarding this permitting process and for the careful attention you have given this project.

With best regards,

Sincerely,

Peter F. Murphy

District 28

Today I listened to debate on HB315 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009.  This bill calls on the Department of Environment to publish and update an inventory of statewide greenhouse gas emissions for calendar year 2006.  A Task Force will be established to submit a proposed plan to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 20011 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the 2006 levels by 2020.  A further goal is reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 2006 levels by 2050.

The goal is to reduce these emissions with no loss of jobs, no loss of industry, and be mindful of the impact of this goal on various regions in Maryland.  This is no small task.  The legislation passed the House with a vote of 107-31.