Maryland Department of the Environment

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is a government agency in the state of Maryland that implements and enforces environmental protection laws and programs. The agency's stated vision is "Healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities and ecosystems in Maryland." Its headquarters are in Baltimore, Maryland.[1]

MDE offices in Baltimore

Department responsibilities

The Department's principal functions are:

  • Enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, both state and federal. Its several divisions issue pollution control permits, oversee public water systems, supervise cleanup of waste sites and remediation, and provide financial assistance to communities for environmental infrastructure improvements.
  • Long-term planning and research.
  • Technical assistance to businesses and communities throughout the state in the areas of pollution control and prevention, urbanization and growth, and environmental emergencies.[2]

Organization

The Maryland Department of the Environment was created in 1987 by the Maryland General Assembly, which consolidated environmental regulatory and planning programs from several predecessor agencies.[3]

The current head of the department is Benjamin Grumbles, Secretary of the Environment. Grumbles was appointed to the position by Governor Larry Hogan in 2015.[4] The department includes five principal divisions:

  • Air and Radiation Administration
  • Land and Materials Administration
  • Water and Science Administration
  • Office of Budget and Infrastructure Financing
  • Operational Services Administration.[1]

See also

References
  1. "MDE Organizational Guide" (PDF). Baltimore, MD: Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). 2019.
  2. "About MDE". MDE. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  3. "Department of the Environment: Origin". Maryland Manual Online. Annapolis, MD: Maryland State Archives. 2015-09-29.
  4. "Maryland environment chief talks about importance of groundwater in visit to Hickory Elementary". The Baltimore Sun. 2015-03-13.
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