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Edition #32  |  May 2026 |
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Our staff volunteers gathered at Masonville Cove in South Baltimore for a shoreline cleanup for Earth Day.
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Earth Month in Maryland is always a powerful reminder. Environmental protection is not just about policy. It is about people. And this year, people of all ages and backgrounds showed up.
Some of the most inspiring leadership comes from our youngest residents. Through the Maryland Transit Administration Earth Day Art Contest, students from across the state imagined a cleaner, more sustainable future—and then brought it to life. For the third year in a row, we unveiled a zero-emission bus wrapped in the bold, hopeful designs of six finalists, ages 5 to 17. Their creativity manifests a vision of where we are going.
We also spent time where this work matters most—on the ground, in our communities. At Masonville Cove, our staff volunteers came together for a shoreline cleanup as part of one of the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships. And at Northview Elementary School in Bowie, alongside the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland State Department of Education, we planted 30 trees through the Schoolyard Forests Program—part of Maryland’s 5 Million Trees initiative. That work has the goal to grow a canopy and also helps young people build a lasting connection to the environment around them.
That is what this month represents. It may come once a year, but the responsibility stays with us every day.
So I ask you to keep going. Take that extra step. Keep your neighborhoods clean. Respect the spaces we share. The choices we make today will define the world we leave to the next generation.
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NEW STATEWIDE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS PERMIT APPROVED |
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The general discharge permit for animal feeding operations (AFOs) reflects input gathered through a series of public meetings, stakeholder engagement sessions, and written comments received during the formal public comment period. The permit will take effect on May 8. MORE |
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SCHOOLYARD FORESTS PROGRAM GROWS THROUGH COLLABORATION |
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As part of Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative, the program, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), creates outdoor spaces to support well-being and enrich learning through tree planting, tree care, and environmental education. MORE |
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TELEVISION TOWER CASE SETTLES FOR $2.2 MILLION FOR LEAD PAINT |
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The settlement resolves a civil lawsuit against the owner of a 1,000-foot tall broadcast tower and its contractor following the spread of lead paint chips and debris across surrounding neighborhoods, reaching parks, playgrounds, and daycares near the 3700 block of Malden Avenue in Baltimore City. MORE |
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VIDEO OF THE MONTH: Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission Meeting. These sessions bring together experts from MDE and the Baltimore City Health Department to discuss critical updates in the fight against lead poisoning.Â
>>> WATCH VIDEO |
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POST OF THE MONTH: 5 Million Trees for Maryland. Plant a tree. Make it count. Breathe easier! >>> WATCH REEL |
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