COUNTY COUNCIL OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND
2002 Legislative Session
Resolution No.
CR-73-2002
Proposed by
Council Chairman Shapiro
Introduced by
Council Members Shapiro, Hendershot, Bailey, Dernoga and Wilson
Co-Sponsors
Date of Introduction
November 18, 2002
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION concerning
Environmental Justice Task Force (Solid Waste Management)
For the purpose of establishing the Environmental Justice Task Force to advise the County on methods and criteria to mitigate the negative impacts of solid waste facilities on low income and minority communities.
WHEREAS, the County Executive proposed the adoption of the County’s Ten Year Solid Waste Management Plan and such plan was approved by the County Council in 2002, with the adoption of CR-44-2002; and
WHEREAS, the County’s Ten Year Solid Waste Management Plan provides criteria for the location of proposed public and private facilities for the collection, processing, transfer, recycling, transformation, and disposal of solid waste; and
WHEREAS, the County has closed its Sandy Hill Landfill in 2001and must plan for the closure of its Brown Station Road Landfill in less than ten years; and
WHEREAS, the location and construction of private solid waste acceptance facilities are regulated as heavy industrial land uses pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, traditional land use criteria do not adequately address adverse impacts upon existing residential and commercial communities and proposed residential and commercial revitalization efforts in the developed tier of the County; and
WHEREAS, the transportation routes associated with solid waste acceptance facilities impact existing residential and commercial communities in ways not measured by traditional traffic studies that measure and predict the capacities of roads; and
WHEREAS, objective criteria to measure and mitigate the impacts of locating solid waste acceptance facilities in the developed tier need to be developed and applied to existing procedures and criteria in the Solid Waste Plan and the Special Exception process; and
WHEREAS, Section 506 of the Charter of Prince George's County, Maryland, provides that the Council may appoint, for designated periods, temporary advisory boards of citizens of the County who shall assist in the consideration of County policies and programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County Council of Prince George's County, Maryland, that the Environmental Justice Task Force is hereby created to evaluate and recommend to the County Council appropriate amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance, the Zoning Ordinance, and the 2001-2011 Ten Year Solid Waste Management Plan to ensure that negative impacts upon existing low income and minority residential and commercial communities are considered and mitigated during the review of all proposed solid waste facilities in the County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Environmental Justice Task Force shall be composed of 15 members:
1. The Chairman of the County Council or the Chairman’s representative, who shall serve as the presiding officer,
2. The Director of the Department of Environmental Resources or the Director’s representative,
3. A representative selected by the Prince George’s Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
4. A representative of the Maryland Black Mayors Association,
5. A representative of ACTION – Langley Park,
6. The Planning Director or the Director's representative,
7. A representative of the Maryland Department of the Environment,
8. A representative selected by the Patuxent Chapter of the Sierra Club,
9. A representative selected by the Anacostia Watershed Society,
10. A representative selected by the Central County Coalition, and
11. Five citizens of the County selected by the Chairman of the County Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Environmental Justice Task Force shall present its evaluation and recommendations to the County Council by June 18, 2003. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council Administrator shall assign appropriate technical and administrative support personnel to assist the Task Force in its work. Adopted this 18th day of November, 2002.
COUNTY COUNCIL OF PRINCE
GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND
BY: _________________________________
Peter A. Shapiro
Chair
ATTEST:
______________________________
Redis C. Floyd
Clerk of the Council