Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening (D) today created the country’s first statewide commission to ensure that poor and minority communities don’t bear the brunt of environmental pollution. Glendening said, “There are communities that tend to be politically less powerful because the family members are too busy struggling for survival. And as a result, they get dumped on.” The 15-member Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities will include representatives from businesses, environmental groups, and relevant communities, as well as state environmental, health, and planning officials. It will make annual recommendations to the governor, but it will have no regulatory power.
