MD Senators Noodge Army Corps on Aquaculture

Senators Urge Army Corps of Engineers to Expedite Oyster Aquaculture Permits

WASHINGTON (March 1, 2011) – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD), made a personal appeal to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today for it to streamline the permit process for oyster aquaculture. Both during a meeting on Capitol Hill and in a letter, the Senators expressed their support for a General Permit for Maryland waters, which would be used in lieu of individual permits. General Permits are used when a number of similar conditions need to be met and the risk of environmental harm relatively low. If the applicant can satisfy the basic requirements, permitting is faster, more predictable and administratively easier to manage.

Follow the link to see the actual letter Sen Cardin sent to the  ACOE.  As an advocate for aquaculture in the Bay, I applaud this move.  In general, I'm in favor of less bureaucratic red tape making business needlessly  difficult as well.