Groundswell of Support for a Septic Ban?

The only blockbuster announcement from Governor Martin O'Malley's State-of-the-State address last month was the surprise initiative to bans septics systems throughout Maryland.
 
In a spurt of rhetorical hyperbole, O'Malley proclaimed, "But there is one area of reducing pollution where so far we have totally failed, and in fact it has gotten much worse, . . .and that is pollution from the proliferation of new septic systems - systems which by their very design are intended to leak sewage into our Bay and water tables. You and I can turn around this damaging trend by banning the further installation of septic systems in major Maryland housing developments. This is common sense, this is urgently needed, this is timely, and for the health of the Bay we need to do what several rural counties have already had the good sense to do."
 

It was meant as an applause line - but there was no applause by the members of the Maryland General Assembly. In fact, there was stunned silence. Perhaps if O'Malley had spent more time in Annapolis laying the groundwork for such a major policy announcement, it might have been more favorably received.

First a fact check: which counties have "already had the good sense" to ban septic systems as cited by O'Malley? The Governor's staff has had a hard time identifying any counties with an outright ban as claimed.

Republican legislators have led the criticism of the so-called "Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011." Senator E.J. Pipkin and Delegate Michael Smiegel have launched a "War on Rural Maryland" website (click here) to disseminate factual information about the bill and its adverse impact on Maryland's farms and rural businesses.

Shutting down housing on septic systems could critically reverse the rural Maryland economy that is attempting to recovery from the recession. Electricians, plumbers and others in the building trades are beginning to see a housing uptick that would be crushed by greater state regulations. This level of state control to inhibit rural growth would be an absolute job killer.

The agricultural community would also see widespread negative effects and a devaluation of equity in farmland. Members of local farm bureaus have voiced strong opposition to O'Malley's proposal.

O'Malley's surprise announcement has left members of his own party squirming. Six Democrat Delegates expressed their displeasure to Chairman Maggie McIntosh (the House chairperson of the Environmental Matters committee that will hear the bill). In return, McIntosh wrote to O'Malley requesting that the issue be studied for a year before passing legislation.

In light of Chairman McIntosh's letter, the Baltimore Sun reported prematurely that the bill was dead for the session but later ran a retraction.

Although it has been ineptly pursued so far, O'Malley still wants to rescue some semblance of a policy victory before Session's end.

A word of warning to anyone who might believe that the bill is dead:  Remember, it ain't over till its all over on Sine Die.