About Protecting our Environment

The M-NCPPC's Montgomery County Planning Board, through its extensive system of parks and its planning and regulatory activities, protects Montgomery County's natural resources as it balances the competing needs of the larger community.

As a planning and regulatory agency as well as a land owner, the M-NCPPC safeguards the County's environment through natural resources planning, development planning, and review of development projects, as well as land acquisition and conservation of County parklands. Staff carry out a comprehensive program for the planning and management of County-wide natural resources (on private lands) and resources on lands under the stewardship of the M-NCPPC (public parklands).

Our responsibilities are mandated by Article 28 of the Annotated Code of Maryland and more recent environmental law and policy, including the County's General Plan and amendments (i.e, area and functional master plans, including the Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan), forest conservation and wetland legislation, federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for park maintenance facilities, and the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act of 1992.

M-NCPPC staff members collect and analyze natural resources data needed for effective land use and land management decision-making from both the biological and planning aspects for best natural resources management. Our four-fold functions of inventory, planning, management, and research allow us to serve our customers including private citizens, the business community, other planning divisions, park managers, and federal, state, regional, and county government agencies.

Our work program includes:

Resource mapping; resource planning; support in development of area master plans, functional master plans, and park master plans; environmental review of development proposals, including management of the County forest conservation program; stewardship and enhancement of forest, aquatic, and wildlife ecology; and special projects. In addition, White Tail Deer in Montgomery County, Maryland, explains the County's deer management strategies.

This organization balances healthy community development with effective natural resources protection and enhancement for the benefit of current and future generations of Montgomery County residents and visitors.

Programs for the enjoyment of the County's natural, historical, and archaeological resources are offered through the park system's nature centers, historic sites and interpretive programs.

Volunteering, employment and internships in the fields of natural resources management and environmental planning are also available.

>Contact Environmental Planning

>Back to: > Our website - home > Environment - home