Following right on the heels of the MDE permit denial for the cross-county connector, Sierra Club is celebrating yet another permit denial of the destructive cross-county connector highway. This time, the denial comes from the Army Corps of Engineers, which denies permits very, very rarely. The reasons included that this monstrous highway is not in the public interest.
The demise of this highway project is the result of activists working diligently for years to stop it. The Maryland Chapter and its members played a prominent role in the defeat of the connector by bringing thousands of environmentalists to the Mattawoman Creek for hikes and trips, drawing the attention of state officials to the Creek, and turning out folks for hearings, encouraging them to write letters and submit comments.
The battle for the creek continues. Currently, Charles County Sierra Club members are working hard to advocate for smart-growth in the county's land use plan. Choosing smart growth over destructive sprawl will be critical in Maryland's ability to protect our rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay.