Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain (center) and Land and Materials Administration Director Rick Kessler (left) testify in support of a bill that would allow her agency to let chicken growers begin construction on new poultry houses amid delays in issuing a new permit for the industry. (Photo by Christine Condon/ Maryland Matters)
Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain admits that her agency “did lapse,” in failing to re-issue a critical permit for chicken houses on time.
In response, the agency is backing an emergency bill in the General Assembly that would allow construction to start on new chicken houses before the new permit is released for the industry…