Maryland Environmental Service Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget

Response to Department of Legislative Services Budget Analysis

Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Public Safety, Transportation and Environment Subcommittee

Senator Cory V. McCray, Chairman February 7, 2020

House Appropriations Committee Transportation and Environment Subcommittee

Delegate Marc Korman, Chairman February 10, 2020

STATEMENT OF ROY MCGRATH, DIRECTOR, MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE BUDGET OVERSIGHT HEARING

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. For the record, I am Roy McGrath, Director of the Maryland Environmental Service. I’d like to take a moment and introduce the two colleagues with me at the table today: Beth Wojton, Deputy Director, and Michael Harris, our CFO. Also joining us today in the room are a few other key members of our staff.

2020 is a momentous year for MES. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our organization. The past five decades have been marked with remarkable growth and success in achieving our important mission of providing services and products that protect and enhance Maryland’s environment. By our measures, today MES operates more than 1,000 projects and services across Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region, and we do so without any direct funding or appropriations for our operations from the State.

We are able to accomplish this through the dedicated and productive work of our now record, nearly 900 teammates who support the work of MES, but also because of the unique not-for-profit, independent structure of the agency. 

Our organization effectively combines the highest level of commitment to the environment while maintaining the structural flexibility to quickly and comprehensively respond to urgent environmental challenges when they arise — and, indeed, they do arise.

I would also like to point out our significant and historic economic impact on the state.

 

In FY19, we generated $161 million in revenue from state, county, municipal, and private sector client projects and services. This placed us as the 25th largest organization — by revenue — in the Baltimore area, and a remarkable two-thirds of our revenue flows directly back into the private sector, including nearly 30% to Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) partners.

Our work touches every county and corner of Maryland. For example, in August we began a historic partnership with Garrett County, where we now operate all 27 of the government’s water and wastewater treatment facilities — the first such state-county public works partnership in Maryland. We also began an important dredging project at Lake Linganore in Frederick County, which will assist the county and city with their long-term plans for this important body of water.

We are proud of the reputation our independent organization has earned for enhancing and protecting Maryland’s natural resources, especially as we do this without relying on the State for operations funding.

MES has reviewed and concurs with the DLS recommendation. We also thank our analyst, Andrew Gray, for his work and collaboration.

Thank you and we welcome any questions you may have.

Mission: To provide operational and technical services to

protect and enhance the environment for the benefit of the

people of Maryland.

Vision: Maryland Environmental Service is an innovative and

leading-edge solver of environmental problems; a responsible

and successful manager of environmental operations; and a

great place to work.

• Established in 1970, Maryland Environmental Service (MES) operates more than 1,000 environmental projects and services across the Maryland Region, and employs nearly 900 team members.

• MES is a unique, not-for-profit public corporation that combines public sector commitment to environmental protection with private sector flexibility and responsiveness.

• MES receives no direct State operations funding and does not have regulatory authority.

• MES actively encourages minority-owned firms to participate in the procurement process and facilitates connections between small business owners and our clients in support of local businesses.

• An independent self-supporting State agency, MES enhances and protects Maryland’s environment through innovative solutions to the region’s most complex environmental challenges.

• The agency provides a wide array of environmental and technical services to governmental and private sector partners and helps them meet challenging economic objectives.

• Maryland Environmental Service is committed to achieving the highest standards in environmental stewardship, responsibility, and accountability.

Frostburg Water Treatment Plant Midshore II Landfill, Ridgely Poplar Island Construction

259 Najoles Road, Millersville, MD 21108 410-729-8200 www.menv.com

Maryland Environmental Service was created in 1970 to enhance and

protect our State’s natural resources, and MES continues to fulfill this

vital directive today.

MES provides environmental and technical services to government and private sector

partners and works on projects including dredged material management, solid waste

management, water and wastewater treatment, composting, recycling, hazardous materials

cleanup, stormwater services, and renewable energy. MES provides expert engineering, monitoring,

and inspection services.

With over 1,000 diverse projects located across the Mid-Atlantic region, MES couples broad operational

expertise with a commitment to strict environmental compliance and safe work practices. Our nearly 900

team members are involved in projects that range in cost from $500 to $15.3 million.

MES remains focused on finding innovative solutions to our region’s most complex environmental challenges and

preserving our natural resources for generations to come. This wealth of expertise helps reinforce a strong

commitment to safe and ethical work practices, cost containment, improving the communities in which we work,

and meeting the unique needs of our many partners.

Eastern Correctional Institution Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility

MES Headquarters

259 Najoles Road, Millersville, MD 21108 410-729-8200 www.menv.com