August 10th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
Governor Larry Hogan today signed Executive Order 01.01.2017.17, which will direct the Maryland Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, to begin eradication of the midge population in the Back River in Baltimore County. The targeted treatments will use a biological product approved for organic farming that was recommended by a panel of scientists and will have no impact on the environment or other species. Midges, which have posed a nuisance since 2008, have had significant economic ramifications for tourism, local businesses, and community facilities in the county.
“We have heard the repeated call of local residents loud and clear,” said Governor Hogan. “Our administration is proud to take action to provide immediate and much-needed relief from this ongoing nuisance and provide further upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.”
This afternoon, the governor joined Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh and other state and local officials for the groundbreaking of the Back River Headworks Project at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is expected to reduce more than 80 percent of the volume of the sewage overflows from the Baltimore City Sewer System. The state is investing more than $650 million for the project, which is expected to reduce nitrogen to the Bay by more than 1.8 million pounds per year.
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