By Norris McDonald
Below is my statement in support of the National Harbor regarding its water permit.
Testimony of Norris McDonald
Founder and President
On the
Nontidal Wetlands Permit
Application
For the National Harbor Project
Presented to the
Maryland Department of the
Environment,
Water Management
Administration,
Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways
Division
Oxon Hill High
School
Wednesday, October 18,
2000
Good evening. My name is Norris McDonald and I am the founder and president of the African American Environmentalist Association. The African American Environmentalist Association, founded in 1985, is an environmental organization dedicated to protecting the environment, enhancing the human ecology, and promoting the efficient use of natural resources.
I have lived in Prince George’s County for 18 years. I have worked in the environmental field for 21 years. I was chairman of the Prince Georges County American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for two years. I taught a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) course for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Graduate School in 1997. I am the author of comprehensive report on pollution in Washington, D.C. I also served on two governor-appointed environmental councils: 1) Maryland Advisory Council on Environmental and 2) the Potomac Middle Tributary Strategy Implementation Team.
AAEA supports the development of the National Harbor project. We support the project because it will provide maximal socioeconomic benefits with minimal environmental impacts. We believe that, like Washington, D.C. east of the Anacostia River, Prince George’s County lacks certain amenities that are clearly included in the National Harbor project. AAEA will continue to support relatively low-impact retail/commercial projects developed in a Brownfields context that serve to prevent sprawl. We also believe that this is the type of project Governor Parris N. Glendening had in mind in his Smart Growth and Brownfields initiatives.
This permit application provides a monetary compensation for the
displacement of the intermittent nontidal streams and intermittent nontidal
wetlands at the location. The proposal
meets all State requirements and has been submitted with MDE guidelines related
to nontidal wetlands mitigation. The
monetary contribution of $121,000 is more than adequate to cover the necessary
nontidal streams and wetland replacement costs. Maryland has adopted a goal of achieving no
net loss of nontidal wetlands. Any
wetland loss after December 31, 1990, regulated under state law, must be offset
by mitigation. MDE may accept monetary
compensation if it determines that mitigation is not a feasible
alternative.
The
Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1987, as ratified by the Maryland legislature
(Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act) in 1989, provides the framework for
protecting and preserving the area’s nontidal wetlands. Nontidal wetlands are extremely important to
us. Although, nontidal wetlands have
many of the same biological characteristics as tidal wetlands, nontidal wetlands
are inland, freshwater areas not subject to tidal influence. Wetlands are important natural resources
providing numerous values to society, including habitat, flood protection,
erosion control and water quality preservation.
Nontidal wetlands are important to a healthy environment. We are blessed with diverse populations of
flora and fauna and many species of wildlife use nontidal wetlands for breeding,
wintering and migrating. Wetland
vegetation helps in reducing erosion of banks.
The
wetlands at the National Harbor site are small, palustrine forested wetlands and
intermittent stream channels that originate at seepage areas above the Potomac
River floodplain. In the wetland and
immediately adjacent to the stream channels, the forest canopy is dominated by
red maple, green ash, common elderberry, spicebush, Virginia bugleweed and fowl
manna-grass occurring in the shrub layers.
Before reaching the river, the intermittent water infiltrates into the
soils and does not reach the Potomac River.
The
National Harbor site is absolutely beautiful and will serve as a great
experience and view for all. I think the
opponents of the project will also visit the facility once it is finished. They should bring their families. I can’t wait for my eight-year-old son to
enjoy National Harbor. We are also
boaters and will enjoy the experience of National Harbor from the water. I enjoy teaching my son about the importance
of protecting wetland areas. This
instruction includes visits to wetland areas, mitigation techniques and
practices and the great benefits of appropriate economic
development.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify before you this evening.
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