Roles of the Agencies. This section describes the activity of the agencies in a particular area. Usually, the basis for agency involvement is statutory and regulatory. However, it may also reflect the unique resources of one or more agencies such as staff expertise, equipment, or a highly specialized program.
Roles of the Agencies. Local Environmental Health Authorities Local Environmental Health Authorities are responsible for a broad spectrum of public and environmental health-related laws and regulations, which are designed to protect citizens from illness, injury and death and to safeguard the environment from degradation. They respond to local ordinances and state laws and regulations primarily originating with the Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Environment. From time to time, they also play a collaborative role with several other agencies and departments, including but not limited to Agriculture, Education, Housing, Natural Resources, and Transportation. Local environmental health officials are usually the first responders to a wide variety of complaints and incidents involving environmental issues. These issues may be presented directly by citizens, legislators, other local and state agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the media. The seriousness of these issues may range from simple nuisance complaints to environmental threats with long-term consequences. Accordingly, responses may range from routine inspection and report writing to enforcement orders and emergency management.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment MDE has major responsibilities to assemble and develop data gathered from environmental samples and environmental observations, including data from the DHMH Laboratories Administration, other laboratories, and other internal and external data providers. MDE is responsible for the submission or transmission of these data to end users, such as internal MDE offices, local environmental health authorities, DHMH and other state agencies, and the U.S. EPA.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment Within MDE, the Air and Radiation Management Administration (ARMA) has primary responsibility for air pollution matters. Odor and nuisance complaints that are related to landfills and other permitted solid waste facilities are handled by the Land Management Administration and local governments, in conjunction with ARMA; and those related to sewage treatment facilities are handled by the Water Management Administration and local governments.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment MDE is the State agency vested with responsibility for the control of sources of radiation in the State. As such, MDE has promulgated extensive regulations requiring licensing of certain users of radioactive material and registration and/or certification of x-ray machines. Under an agreement with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the State’s licensing program operates in lieu of the federal program. The NRC retains licensing authority over certain facilities, including nuclear power plants and federal facilities. Radiological samples are sometimes collected during inspections of licensed facilities, and those samples are sent to the DHMH laboratory for analysis.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment MDE Water Management Administration regulates public water systems. MDE tracks and reviews the fluoride concentration of all community water systems. Technical assistance is provided to water system operators on operation and safety issues related to water treatment. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Collaboration opportunities for DHMH Office of Oral Health and MDE Water Management Administration include data and information sharing, community water fluoridation monitoring activities, training of water operators, and related grant writing and application. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a water fluoridation surveillance system for the States that both MDE and DHMH can utilize. In December 2010, the CDC issued new guidelines for fluoridation of water systems; 0.7 milligrams per liter fluoride is considered the optimal concentration. Local Environmental Health Authorities Local Environmental Health Authorities serve an important role in education as well as monitoring of fluoride levels, responding to either under- or over-fluoridation.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment Statewide environmental noise standards were established by Maryland law in 1974. These noise standards were implemented and enforced by MDE’s predecessor at DHMH and then MDE until 2005, when funding for field-oriented compliance and enforcement activities was removed by legislative action. MDE then provided local jurisdictions with limited technical support and enforcement training, and entered into delegation agreements that provided certain jurisdictions with full enforcement authority. In 2012, enforcement authority for State noise standards was formally removed from MDE and transferred to local political subdivisions through passage and implementation of HB 190. However, MDE retains statutory authority to adopt and revise environmental noise standards. Specific environmental noise standards for highway traffic noise and aviation-related noise are handled by the Maryland Department of Transportation (State Highway Administration and Maryland Aviation Administration). Both federal (23 CFR 772) and state (Transportation Article, § 5-208, Annotated Code of Maryland and COMAR 11.03) statutes provide the basis for this governing authority.
Roles of the Agencies. Department of
Roles of the Agencies. Department of the Environment MDE will consult and coordinate with the DHMH Laboratories Administration in a timely manner to allow the DHMH Laboratories Administration to provide services in an efficient and effective way.
