Oyster shell program adds 3 collection sites
The Anne Arundel County Recycling Division has joined the Oyster Recovery Partnership and will provide three new public collection sites for shells that will be used in Bay oyster restoration.
The three new sites are located at the Glen Burnie Convenience Center, 100 Dover Road, Glen Burnie; the Millersville Landfill, 389 Burns Crossing Road, Severn; and Sudley Convenience Center, 5400 Nutwell Sudley Road, Deale. The collection sites are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays.
The partnership is the region's largest group of restaurants, caterers, wholesalers, citizens and other entities recycling their used oyster shell. One recycled shell can provide homes for 10 new oysters.
"Oyster shell is an extremely limited natural resource that we must recycle as new oysters prefer to attach and grow onto other oyster shells," said Stephan Abel, executive director of the ORP.
For details about the recycling program, visit www.oysterrecovery.org.
Funds available for parks outdoor recreation in VA
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, in partnership with the National Park Service, has approximately $1 million to award through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Towns, cities, counties, regional park authorities and state agencies are eligible for the parks and recreation grants, ranging from $75,000–$300,000.
The program was established to acquire and develop public outdoor recreation areas. Areas funded through the program must be open and maintained in perpetuity as public outdoor recreation areas.
The deadline for preliminary applications is 4 p.m. Jan. 4. For details, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/lwcf.shtml.
Draft stormwater regulations in VA available for review
Draft stormwater regulations affecting approximately 90 Virginia cities, towns, public colleges and universities, highway projects and other state and federal projects are available for public review and comment through Jan. 4.
The general permit for small, or Phase II municipal separate stormwater sewer systems, must be approved by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.
The U.S. Clean Water Act and the Virginia Stormwater Management Act call for this general permit to be issued every five years. The current permit, issued in July 2008, expires July 1, 2013.
For details, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/lr3e.shtml.
