Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of natural and cultural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. For 60 plus years Essex Skypark has been committed to operating its facilities in an environmentally responsible manner so as to conserve the existing resources unique to the Airport and its environment and to produce a better environment for neighboring communities, for the public at large, and also for Essex Skypark customers, tenants and guests.
Environmental stewardship is factored not only into the Airport's daily operations, but also into plans for future development. In defining and applying sustainable design principles, Essex Skypark strives to address environmental issues early in any planning process.
Innovative approaches to meet, and potentially exceed, regulatory requirements, are inherent in the environmental goals and objectives defined by Essex Skypark and Baltimore County. Best management practices and monitoring also contribute to sustaining an environment that is shared by many.
Many wetland areas occur in the local area but most are degraded or impaired by urbanization effects of fragmentation, pollution, and filling. In the design and implementation of wetlands mitigation commitments, Essex Skypark will work with Baltimore County Environmental Protection and Resource Management and Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) to develop a holistic approach that seeks to create and restore aquatic resource needs. Two recent projects conducted by the Civil Air Patrol and Airport tenants included the clean up of trash and debris left in the wake of Hurricane Isabel. Other restorations of tidal marsh along the Chesapeake Bay have been conducted in previous years.
Essex Skypark looks forward to working with the Baltimore County and MAA on new projects such as the secondary purpose for environmental research, education, walking trails, related tourism and a non-profit conference center.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the MAA prepares environmental studies to identify the possible environmental impacts associated with proposed development projects. The MAA makes copies of each draft document available to the public in an effort to obtain meaningful input regarding its proposed development if any, and holds public meetings during the open review period for each environmental document. The MAA responds to public questions and comments, and publishes its response in the final environmental document. The MAA must receive the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its final environmental document in order to receive federal funding for a proposed project.
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