Our Vision for a Healthy Baltimore
The air we breathe, the water we use, and the environments which surround us directly affect Baltimore’s health and quality of life. Historically, we have made decisions without consideration for where the materials or inputs we use come from or what will become of the outputs, for instance in the form of pollution. In contrast, sustainable ways of thinking consider both the external impacts of the inputs we use in production and consumption, as well as the ”waste” created. As a result of older, more traditional economic thinking, many of the processes we have adopted produce air, water, land, and atmospheric pollution that threaten both human and environmental health. To be sustainable, we need to change our way of thinking and begin to view all “waste” in new ways through reducing, reusing and recycling.
The impact pollution and waste have on our health and quality of life is becoming more and more evident. Every day, Baltimoreans breath air ranked as the 9th, 10th, and 22nd most polluted nationally for ozone, short term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution, respectively. Moreover, Baltimore has three times the state average of Code Orange days, putting children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems at risk.[1] The Center for Disease Control reported that asthma accounts for about 14 million school days missedannually and costs an estimated $3.2 billion annually to treat in children under the age of 18 alone. In Baltimore, 24% of high school students are afflicted with asthma, compared with the national average of 17%.[2]
Water pollution similarly compromises the human and environmental health of Baltimore. Pollution in our streams, rivers, and the Bay impedes our use of these resources as centers of recreation and natural beauty, as well as their ability to sustain crucial wildlife habitats. The Chesapeake Bay is one of our region’s greatest assets, yet the health of the Bay continues to deteriorate year after year as indicated by the 2007 State of the Bay report.[3] The federal Clean Water Act calls for all waters to be fishable and swimmable unless it is demonstrated that it is impractical to meet this goal. However, many of Baltimore’s water bodies are currently not hospitable sites for either fishing or swimming.
In addition to the pollution of our air and water, we must deal with polluted land. Brownfields are the name for sites whose redevelopment may be compromised because of the potential presence of hazardous substances. Unfortunately, because of Baltimore’s rich industrial heritage, most available sites in Baltimore are considered Brownfields. These sites can be made safe and useful again, but they must first be properly treated. Currently, through partnerships with the EPA and other federal, state, and local entities, the City of Baltimore has become a Brownfield Showcase Community. We serve as a model for other cities, demonstrating the benefits of collaborative activity on brownfields. Since the Baltimore Brownfields Initiative began, over 30 sites have been assessed, four of which are participating in a voluntary cleanup program. One site alone has already attracted $11.5 million in private investment and created almost 200 jobs.
Pollution is not limited to outdoor environments. In fact, many of the pollutants we are exposed to everyday are found in our indoor environments. Soot or indoor particulate matter (PM) levels in the bedrooms of Baltimore’s inner-city children were found to be remarkably high. More than 17% of the homes tested would fail the EPA’s 24-hour ambient PM2.5 standard, according to a study by the EPA Children’s Environmental Health Centers. The Children’s Center at Johns Hopkins found that elevated indoor PM levels were significantly associated with asthma, increased respiratory symptoms, and more frequent inhaler medication use. Lead poisoning is another example of an indoor pollutant found in Baltimore homes and buildings. Lead dust is often invisible, but when ingested or inhaled can lead to irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system. With young children spending nearly 80-90% of their time indoors, and on average close to three quarters of that time is spent in the home, the safety of the home environment has a large impact on children’s health.
In addition to these pollution impacts, the science demonstrating the unintended link between human behavior and climate change has never been stronger. We are facing unprecedented changes in the global climate and there is no time to waste in developing strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions so that future generations will be able to enjoy the same resources we have today. Average global temperatures could increase up to eight degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century if we continue on our current trajectory. Along with this rise in temperatures, rising sea levels, increased spread of tropical diseases such as malaria, loss of habitat and biodiversity, and amplified intensity of extreme weather events are also predicted. In recent years, the U.S. federal government has been largely silent on climate policy, causing cities and states to take the lead in developing solutions.
The pollution of our air, water, land, and home environments ultimately affects the health of Baltimore’s citizens, communities, environment, and economy. However, there are steps we can take to prevent further pollution while beginning to restore the health of our environments.
Pollution Prevention Goal 1
Reduce Baltimore’s greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2015
Climate change is one of the great est challenges of our time. The impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on our climate are accelerating around the world, and we must act quickly to reduce our emissions in order to preserve our planet for future generations. Locally, Baltimore is vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the form of rising sea levels threatening real estate and infrastructure, increased cooling loads raising the cost to air-condition our buildings, and rising water temperatures threaten aquatic life. In the fall of 2008, the Baltimore Office of Sustainability completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for both the city as a whole and the city government as an operating entity. The next step will entail prepar ing and implement ing a Climate Action Plan for Baltimore that will identify the most cost-effective means of reducing our consumption-based emissions by at least 15% from current levels by 2015.
Strategy A: Create a Climate Action Plan for the City of Baltimore
Prepare a Climate Action Plan for Baltimore with specific short, medium, and long term consumption-based targets that are based on thorough cost-benefit analyses. The plan will include a comprehensive list of actions spanning the goals of the Sustainability Plan, a built-in system of accountability, an assessment of the risks to Baltimore associated with the effects of climate change, and strategies to minimize the impact of those risks.
The first step to creating a Climate Action Plan, conducting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, was completed by the Office of Sustainability in the fall of 2008. A more in-depth analysis will help identify the most cost-effective and feasible means of meeting our emissions reduction targets. Once completed, this document will include:
- Baseline emissions inventory
- Emissions forecast
- Chosen emissions reduction targets
- Description of implemented emissions reduction measures
- Description of new or proposed actions, together with existing measures, will enable Baltimore to meet its emissions reduction targets
- Implementation strategies for each proposed measure identifying costs, responsibilities, schedules, funding sources, etc.
- Procedures for monitoring progress made toward the achievement of the target and the status of implementation of the GHG reduction actions
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy
- Funding Source: City Funds; Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: BOS, Baltimore Energy Office (BEO)
Strategy B: Implement Climate Action Plan for the City of Baltimore
Implement Baltimore’s Climate Action Plan to meet short, medium, and long term consumption-based targets. Proposed actions will likely include a combination of policy, operations, capital, education, and technological recommendations to both mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. Comprehensive engagement of the entire Baltimore community will assist with the effective implementation of the plan.
- Timeframe: Long-term
- Type: Policy
- Funding Source: City Funds; State and Federal Funds; Private Funds; Partnerships; Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: Mayor & City Council, BOS, BEO, Non-governmental organizations (NGO) and Private Partners
Pollution Prevention Goal 2
Improve Baltimore’s air quality and eliminate Code Red days
Many of the issues impacting air quality in Baltimore are influenced by factors outside of the city . However, there are actions we can take locally to help improve the air we breathe. The EPA has created an Air Quality Index that is used to track and report daily regional air quality. A Code Red designation is applied on days when outdoor air quality is deemed unhealthy for everyone and limiting outdoor activities is recommended. Code Orange designation is applied on d ays when the air quality is deemed unhealthy for sensitive populations such as children and older adults . In 2007, Baltimor e experienced four Code Red and 23 Code Orange days. Baltimore City, along with several other local jurisdictions in Maryland, is currently out of attainment with federal fine particle pollution standards. The goal is to eliminate Code Red days, minimize Code Orange day , and bring Baltimore into compliance with federal air quality standard s .
Strategy A: Add an air quality and climate change implication evaluation to all government-funded projects
Require evaluation of air quality and greenhouse gas emission impacts for all City-sponsored capital projects in Baltimore. Understanding the public health and climate change implications of projects will help align decision-making processes with the best interest of the environmental, human, and economic well-being of the Baltimore community.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: All City agencies
Strategy B: Create Code Red/Orange day policies
Implement policies and support informational campaigns to convince citizens and business to defer certain high-polluting, non-essential activities on forecasted Code Red and Orange days. Incentives to consider during these days include free ridership on public transit to discourage the use of personal automobiles.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Legislative; Policy and Operations
- Funding Source: Funding Analysis Needed
- Lead Partners: Mayor & City Council, State, Federal Agencies, Maryland Transit Authority (MTA)
Strategy C: Explore options for more efficient fleet conversion
Establish a working group that will explore all options for requiring that citygovernment,city taxis, the MTA, and large businesses and institutions operating in Baltimore City convert their fleets to more efficient vehicles. Consider implementation of policies that will require the purchase and/or lease of conventional, hybrids, electric-drive, or alternative fuel vehicles so that 50% of the fleet vehicles are in the top 10% of efficiency in their weight class by 2015.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Partnership, Legislative
- Funding Source: Existing Program Funds
- Lead Partners:: BOS, Fleet Management, MTA, Local Institutions
Strategy D: Institute and enforce a city-wide no-idling policy
Institute and enforce a no-idling policy for all vehicles in the city, including ships and trucks at the port. Each day, Americans waste approximately 3.8 million gallons of gasoline by voluntarily idling their cars. This strategy will mitigate the waste of fuel, the release of air pollutants into the environment, damage to automotive engines, waste of gasoline, and noise pollution.
- Timeframe: Ongoing
- Type: Policy
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners:: Parking Authority, Port Authority, Department of General Services
Pollution Prevention Goal 3
Ensure that Baltimore waters bodies are fishable and swimmable
In accordance with the federal Clean Water Act, Baltimore is striving to restore our water quality to fishable and swimmable levels by 2020, a very aggressive goal given the challenges we are facing. Baltimore has thousands of stormwater outfall pipes that drain our streets and private land. Many contain sewer leakage and other pollutants and chemicals. Trash also washes from streets into these stormwater pipes, ultimately reaching Baltimore streams and our harbor. BaltimoreHarbor is the ‘bottom of the bowl,’ where most regional stream systems empty into. To reach our goal, we must employ a variety of creative strategies that include the watershed land in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
Strategy A: Implement recommendations contained in the City County Watershed Agreement
The Agreement emphasizes the importance of interjurisdictional cooperation and identifies 11 distinct strategy areas with specific recommendations for water quality improvements. The Sustainability Commission recommends identification of specific tactics to address the following objectives:
- Conduct an analysis of the existing city codes to identify and remove regulatory barriers to water quality improvements
- Coordinate with Baltimore County to develop joint strategies for regional scale water quality improvements
- Eliminate trash from our waterways
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Variable
- Funding Source: To be determined as program implemented
- Lead Partners: City and County Government Agencies, Watershed Organizations
Strategy B: Study creation of a stormwater utility or other new funding sources
A stormwater utility would function similiarly to Baltimore’s existing water and wastewater utilities and would fund maintenance and improvements to Baltimore’s water quality system. The utility would assess a fee related to stormwater pollution and use those fees to support new water quality improvements and to maintain existing structures and systems.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Policy/Operations
- Funding Source: Existing Program Funds
- Lead Partners: DPW
Strategy C: Reduce the amount of impervious surface in the City by at least 25%
Identify and implement targeted technologies to reduce impervious surfaces and the impact they have onincreasing the volume
of rain water and pollutants that enter stream systems during storms, causing stream bank erosion and sediment and pollutant
discharge into the harbor and bay. Examples of impervious surfaces include green medians in streets, green roofs, and ‘green’
alleys made of a porous asphalt that allows rainwater to percolate through.
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Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Policy and Capital
- Funding Source: Mitigation Fees; City, State and Federal Funds; Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: DPW, Department of Planning (DoP), NGOs
Strategy D: Protect and restore Baltimore’s stream corridors
Restore and stabalize Baltimore’s streams to prevent erosion and restore habitat. Baltimore’s streams have been severely eroded and degraded by changes in drainage patterns caused by development in the surrounding watersheds. Stream restoration projects manage stormwater flow and restore stream channels by widening and greening them, adding rock weirs, or changing their configuration. These changes allow for replanting of vegetation and creation of ‘pooling’ areas for fish and other wildlife.
- Timeframe: Long-term
- Type: Capital
- Funding Source: Mitigation Funds; Grant Programs; City, State and Federal Funds
- Lead Partners: DPW, Local Watershed Organizations
Strategy E: Create watershed based natural resource management plans
Create and implement site specific plans to more effectively organize environmental and planning efforts for system-wide improvements. Study and document existing conditions and opportunities for environmental improvements within Baltimore watersheds to identify more environmentally-sensitive development plans that concentrate restoration efforts in areas that will provide the most benefit.
- Time Frame: Short term
- Type: Policy/Operational; Planning
- Funding Source: Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: BOS, DPW, DRP, Local Watershed Organizations and other Non-Government Partners
Strategy F: Increase actions by individual property owners to treat stormwater.
Educate residents and businesses about small-scale storm water management. The majority of land in Baltimore that is part of our stormwater drainage patterns is privately owned, yet only a very small percentage of this land is improved for stormwater treatment. Small scale improvements such as rain barrels, rain gardens, tree planting, and trash management would help improve water quality significantly.
- Time Frame: Short-term
- Type: Education
- Funding Source: Grant Programs
- Lead Partners: City Government, Watershed Organizations, State Government
Pollution Prevention Goal 4
Reduce risks from hazardous materials
Scientific research continues to show that commonly-used chemicals including pesticides, ingredients in household products, and synthetic fertilizers , as well as waste materials from homes, businesses, and industry are even more serious hazards to human and environmental health than previously recognized. Efforts to p has e out many hazardous materials have been accomplished in Europe and Canada. All who live, work, or visit in Baltimore would benefit from a concerted effort to reduce the presence of hazardous materials in our environment. Strategies for reaching this goal will be guided by the Precautionary Principle, which states that policies and actions should protect people and nature from harm by requiring proven safety of products before they are used or handled, rather than waiting until proven harm is established in order to remove such products.
Strategy A: Adopt the “Precautionary Principle” as the underlying policy standard
Promote the adoption of the Precautionary Principle throughout Baltimore in government, institutions, businesses, and residences, by advancing management, procurement, and waste disposal standards that seek to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals. City government will lead the effort by providing people with accurate information about the documented hazards of products and chemicals in common use and about the limitations of consumer protections in place at other levels of government.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: BCS, Department of Health (DoH)
Strategy B: Adopt a policy and plan for elimination of pesticide use and other toxic chemicals
Institute a policy in City-owned and leased properties and land to eliminate the use of toxic chemicals using such methods asIntegrated Pest Management and organic landcare. The policy should embrace preventive non-chemical strategies as a priority, define acceptable least toxic chemicals to be used only as a last resort, and prohibit chemicals that are known to cause adverse health and environmental effects, including cancer, neurological effects, reproductive impacts, immune and respiratory system damage, and water contamination.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Legislative, Policy/Operations
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: Mayor and City Council, BCS
Strategy C: Comply with the Maryland Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools mandate
Assist city public schools with full compliance on best practices mandated by the MD~IPM in Schools law by promoting the adoption of IPM by the city's private schools. Educate school administrators on how Integrated Pest Management has been found to be an effective non-toxic approach to reducing rodent and insect infestations as well as improving energy conservation.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Education, Operations
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: BCPSS, Public School Partners, DoH
Strategy D: Enact an ordinance prohibiting the use of known toxins in health care delivery settings
Prohibit the use of toxins and chemicals designated as such by the US EPA; the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); the US National Toxicology Program (NTP); and the State of California Proposition 65 in all health care facilities in Baltimore City. Promote the findings of Healthcare Without Harm and efforts of the Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (MdH2E) project at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the Maryland Pesticide Network to all health care organizations.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Legislative
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: BCS, DoH
Strategy E: Aggressively promote the redevelopment of Brownfield sites
Develop and implement appropriate incentives to redevelop Brownfield sites, including the use of tax credits and site assessment assistance. Identify means by which these programs can be augmented. Brownfields, sites complicated by the presence or potential presence of a contaminant, are common in Baltimore. These sites are often vacant or abandoned and have uncontrolled contaminants that pose risks to public health and the environment. Responsible clean up and redevelopment minimizes environmental and health hazards, increases the City’s tax base, and serves as an engine for smart growth.
- Time Frame : Short-term
- Type : Policy/Operational, Advocacy
- Funding Source : Federal Funds, State Funds, City Funds
- Lead Partners: Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), Private Sector
Pollution Prevention Goal 5
Improve the health of our indoor environments
Americans spend close to 90% of their time indoors. Hazards found in indoor environments including lead, carbon monoxide, mold, allergens, radon, carbon monoxide, and second-hand smoke can pose a serious threat to the health and productivity of building occupants. Effects can be especially detrimental to children. Areas with older building stock, like Baltimore, often face heightened risk of indoor contamination. Great strides have been made in Baltimore to reduce lead poisoning in children and second-hand smoke in public buildings, but more work needs to be done to safeguard the health of the residents and employees.
Strategy A: Use green cleaning products in schools, government offices, and businesses
Purchase and use green cleaning products in all city-owned and leased facilities. Evaluate the federal government’s procurement policy to consider adopting some or all of them. Develop educational programs to help businesses shift to green cleaning products to reduce the risks of exposure to chemicals in commonly-used cleaning products that are now linked to cancer and skin and lung irritation in cleaning staff and building occupants. Promote demand for green cleaning products to create opportunities to manufacture and distribute these products locally.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Policy/Operations
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: Department of General Services (DGS), BCPSS, Private Sector
Strategy B: Explore the feasibility of making all Baltimore multifamily dwellings smoke-free by 2010
Evaluate policies already in effect in California, Boston, and other jurisdictions that make multifamily dwellings smoke-free to protect disabled and vulnerable populations from exposure to harmful second hand smoke. Educate residents and owners about fire risk reduction as an added benefit of these policies. Those steps would help prepare Baltimore for the smoke free housing requirements HUD is likely to enact in the future.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Legislative, Advocacy, Operations
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), City Council, Property Owners Associations
Strategy C: Increase and coordinate all healthy housing efforts
Unsafe and unhealthy indoor conditions threaten the welfare of many Baltimore families and individuals. Often these conditions are only addressed once they have had consequences for human health. Instead we should seek to proactively make hundreds of homes safe and healthy for low-income Baltimore residents. Baltimore City can maximize its ability to secure federal lead remediation and other healthy housing funds by providing matching dollars. HUD lead remediation and healthy homes funds can be sought if Baltimore provides matching dollars.
- Timeframe: Short-term
- Type: Capital
- Funding Source: City’s Funds, Federal Funds; Grant Programs
- Lead Partners:HCD, DoH, BDC, Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning
Strategy D: Ensure coordination among weatherization, lead remediation, and healthy homes activities
Use national models for joint weatherization, lead remediation, and healthy homes interventions to inform a Baltimore approach to this work. Addressing energy efficiency, safety, and health needs simultaneously will maximize community benefits and cost-effectiveness.
- Timeframe: Mid-term
- Type: Policy/Operations
- Funding Source: Cost Neutral
- Lead Partners: HCD, DoH, Community Organizations, BGE
[1](American Lung Association: State of the Air 2008)
[2] Centers for Disease Control. 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm. Accessed January 30, 2008.
[3](SOTB 2007: http://www.cbf.org/site/DocServer/2007SOTBReport.pdf?docID=10923)