You Have Until April 17 to Sound Off about Aircraft Noise

(Click on the image above for Lori Aratani's Washington Post Report)

The first Federal Aviation Administration noise survey in nearly 30 years found more people are bothered by aircraft noise than before, even as planes have gotten quieter.

According to the FAA’s Neighborhood Environmental Survey [447 pages], nearly two-thirds of people reported being “highly annoyed” by aircraft noise — about five times higher than the 12.4 percent who reported the same level of annoyance during a 1992 review. Those surveyed considered noise from aircraft far more annoying than that from other sources, including cars, trucks and their neighbors.

The FAA is inviting the public to comment on its findings through April 14. More than 2,300 comments have been submitted.

County Executive Alsobrooks to Meet with the Alliance for Greater County Transparency - April 1st

The Office of Community Relations is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 

Topic: CEX Meeting with The Alliance for Greater County Transparency

Time: Apr 1, 2021 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mypgc.zoom.us/j/82213909743

 

Meeting ID: 822 1390 9743

Passcode: 871772

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,82213909743#,,,,*871772# US (Washington DC)

8778535247,,82213909743#,,,,*871772# US Toll-free

 

Dial by your location

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        877 853 5247 US Toll-free

Meeting ID: 822 1390 9743

Passcode: 871772

Find your local number: https://mypgc.zoom.us/u/kcIuPa6jHt

Southern K-8 School Discussion - Sunday, March 28th

(Click on the image above to participate)

Video and Slides of the March 14, 2021 Alliance for Greater County Transparency Town Hall

(Click on the image for the video and slides)

Developer maps of the existing site drainage and the proposed drainage are also shared.

From WTOP:

Why Prince George’s Co. floods — and what can be done to fight it

By Matt Small, March 17, 2021, 9:36 AM

It’s a well-known fact for many Maryland homeowners in Prince George’s County: floods happen. But why? And what can be done about it?

Melinda Bolling, county director of permits, enforcement and inspections, said during a council meeting Tuesday that it comes down to flatlands, older homes built before regulations, high groundwater and what she called “bad soil.”

Tackling the issue comes down to code changes, enhanced enforcement and property owner remedies.

“They aren’t aware of devices that were put in place to keep water away from their home, so we need to educate them,” Bolling said.

In some cases, homeowners may need to connect devices to a storm drain. In other cases, a replacement or a larger pump may be needed.

Bolling said one way property owners can make a difference is ensuring storm drains are unclogged.

“They need to be maintained,” she said. “You’ve got to get the leaves and branches and other debris away from it so that they can work as intended.”

According to a presentation, more than 4,300 calls about flooding and draining complaints have been placed in the last three years.

County Briefing on Flooding Issues - March 16

(Click on the image for the County Council video site)

On the Council agenda for March 16:

1:30 P.M. - BRIEFING

BR 03162021 GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS & SERVICES RELATED TO FLOODING ISSUES

• PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COORDINATED RESPONSE:
  Terry L. Bellamy, Director, Department of Public Works & Transportation
  Melinda M. Bolling, Director, Department of Permitting, Inspections & Enforcement
  Michelle W. Russell, Acting Director, Department of Environment
  
  
• U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE):
  Carlos Lazo, Government Affairs Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
  Tony Clark, Chief, Technical Assistance Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
  
  
• WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY DISTRICT (WSSC):
  Glen Diaz, Division Manager, Water/Wastewater Systems Assessment Division
  Raymond A. Chicca, Division Manager, Development Services
  Karyn Riley, Director, Intergovernmental Relations Office
  Guy Andes, Government Relations Manager

More Change Driven by Students

(Click on the image for the video clip)

The Proctor & Gamble listened to a student.

Click here to hear what Meghan said in 2015 to the United Nations about her experience as a young activist.
 

Town Hall on Flooding and the Proposed K-8 School - March 14th, 1PM

The Town Hall link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84996754120?pwd=dGpuWU5TMEQvRlZMWHk3ZjZnM2R3Zz09

Or call 301-715-8592, Meeting ID: 849 9675 4120, Passcode: 600013

More than 100 people were inconvenienced during the March 7th Town Hall. We are sorry and have since upgraded the Zoom host to accommodate many more people.

Please give us another chance this Sunday, March 14 at 1 PM. The issues are still real and your interest and input are welcome.

1st Prince George's Sustainability Summit - March 30

Date: Tuesday, March 30, 6:30 - 8:30pm

REGISTER HERE

Recent Area Rainfall Deluges Are Frequent and Intense

 

Change Driven by Students

(Click on the image for Hannah Natanson's Washington Post article)

 “Our history is full of change-makers like Barbara Johns . . . their stories are a vital part of the Virginia story, and yet those stories have often gone untold,” Northam said before commending the children for their advocacy. “Meeting students like you is one of the best parts of my job.”

Flooding and Drainage Issues Discussed at South County Community Roundtable

(Click on the image for the DPIE briefing)

A video clip of the Zoom meeting is here.

The K-8 School Will Be Uphill from this Home and Will Remove a "Sponge" that Helps to Keep this Flooding from Being Even Worse

(Click on the image for a short video clip of the flooding)

Environmental Forum - Feb 13, 3:30-5:30 pm

(Click on the image to register)

• Hosted by Council Member Tom Dernoga
• Join County Environmental organizations to learn about and discuss important issues for 2021. Be prepared to advocate for our environment with County, State and municipal officials. 
• Over 100 people attended last year's "in-person" event, and this year's virtual event promises to be even bigger and better! 
• Advance registration is required!
• Program Includes:

1. Success Fighting County Power Plants: Caryl Alexander, Clean Air Prince George's
2. County Climate Action Commission Update: Dawn Hawkins-Nixon, P.E., Depart. of the Environment
3. Clean Energy Schools: Joe Jakuta, Climate Parents
4. Stronger Forest Conservation Requirements: Ben Alexandro, Maryland League of Conservation Voters
5. Joint Base Andrews Contaminates Prince George's County with PFAs: Patrick Elder, Military Poisons
6. SCMaglev is not solution for Prince George's County or Maryland: Sam Droege, MCRT and Dan Woomer, CATS 
7. There will also be some brief explanation of important environmental bills in the Maryland General Assembly.

 

Tantallon/Ft. Washington K-8 School Discussion - Monday, January 11

(Click on the image for video of the discussion)

New K-8 School Will Be Very Close to and Higher than Existing Flooding on Swan Creek Road

(Click on the image for the video)

If you are interested in the approval process for this project:

• Register as a Person of Interest at http://www.mncppcapps.org/planning/Person_of_Record/default.cfm Use Mandatory Referral MR-2036F.
• Since the case hasn't as yet been filed, the hearing date hasn't been set.
• Per http://www.mncppc.org/544/Mandatory-Referral “Mandatory Referral is a review process through which all public sector development projects (from federal, state, and local governments) and public and private utilities are referred to the Planning Board for review. Because the Planning Board's decision and recommendations are advisory only, an applicant may overrule the Planning Board's disapproval and proceed with the proposed project. However, Planning Board recommendations can improve a project, and submitting agencies often adopt them.”

Prince George's County 2020 Snow Summit

(Click on the image for the presentation)

Southern K-8 School Construction Site Logistics

Click here for a video of the Town Hall

(Click on the image for the full presentation)

 

Conservancy of Broad Creek - message from the President

What’s Really in Your Bottled Water?

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports' article)

• CR recently tested 47 bottled waters, including 35 noncarbonated and 12 carbonated ones. For each product, we tested two to four samples. The tests focused on four heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), plus 30 PFAS chemicals, which pose special concerns because they can linger in the environment almost indefinitely.
• Consumer Reports found toxic PFAS chemicals in several popular water brands, especially carbonated ones.

K-8 Townhall Webinar - Jan 21st

(Click on the image to register)