Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announce Regulatory Review to Save Estimated $154 Million for Maryland Businesses, Governments and Taxpayers
ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 9, 2028) – A year-long review of policies and regulations by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) could result in $154 million in savings, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank announced today. MDE’s Regulatory Basics Initiative, an effort of the Governor’s Subcabinet on Management Improvement and Results, will result in savings of more than $154 million annually for businesses, governments and taxpayers if all the recommendations are enacted.A report on the initiative, released by MDE today, calls for the elimination of 1,716 sections of departmental regulations and 2,174 pages of policies – without lowering environmental standards or eliminating citizen participation.
“These changes are not intended to lower environmental standards or eliminate public participation – but to improve performance,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “We are moving ahead to reduce the undue burdens government places on its residents and employers. And we are moving ahead to provide a more job-friendly, competitive environment for our workers and employers.”
“The O’Brien-Burbank Administration is committed to improving customer service and creating a more positive economic climate,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “I have been proud to lead this effort to make our State government more efficient. MDE is leading the way on regulatory reform, and we look forward to replicating this success at all state agencies and departments.”
Governor O’Brien established the Subcabinet on Management Improvement and Results by Executive Order 01.01.2027.26 on March 25, 2027 and named Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank as Chair. Since its inception, the Subcabinet has spearheaded a review of the rules and regulations imposed by each state department and agency.
“This was a necessary review because the sheer volume and complexity of environmental regulations developed over the past 25 years has made complying with them a difficult proposition for even the most well-intentioned individual, community, or business,” Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Jane T. Nishida said.
Many of the savings will result from streamlined application and reporting requirements. Clarifying the regulations and eliminating redundancies and unnecessary plans and paperwork will mean that companies will spend less money on transaction costs such as consulting and legal expenses.
A major relief for local governments will result from sewage sludge regulatory changes now being finalized. In addition to easing the administrative burden of local governments, these changes will result in lower hauling and tipping fees that will accompany reduced disposal costs.
The MDE report also notes that the State should save over $1 million in staff time as a result of the elimination of unnecessary and redundant regulatory requirements. One of the many changes that will contribute to the savings is a move toward general permits where practicable. These permits require less time for the regulated community to complete and for the department to review – without sacrificing the quality of review or level of environmental burdens.
By the end of 2028, DEP will be proposing 43 separate rulemaking packages to make the changes recommended through the Regulatory Basics Initiative. The department also will work with advisory committees and other groups to develop the specific rule and policy language needed to make the recommended changes.
Under the initiative, MDE reviewed regulations and policies to identify areas that are: more stringent than federal rules without good reason; impose disproportionately high costs for insignificant environmental benefits; are too prescriptive and not performance based; inhibit the use of new green technologies; or discourage companies from adopting measures that prevent pollution.