The state must make an important decision about how to regulate manure generated by large poultry and dairy farms that pollute the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland waters. Manure waste, like sewage and toxic air emissions, is regulated because it causes harm by contaminating our water. The reality is that our pollution-reduction practices have not done enough and phosphorus pollution — of which more than 50 percent comes from manure — is rising. Maryland’s animal farms produce an enormous amount of poultry waste, enough to fill M&T Bank Stadium two times annually. It is all Marylanders’ responsibility to ensure manure does not harm our beautiful rivers, streams, drinking water and the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of the Environment, jointly with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, holds the regulatory responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen. Today, the department is considering renewal of the permit that governs Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. As with other permits and regulations that seek to protect the environment and public health, this commonsense permit is under threat by strong special interest groups. The Department of the Environment states the CAFO permit is required to protect water quality. With layer after layer of manure being spread on fields already oversaturated with phosphorus pollution, the state needs the strongest permit possible. The latest data provided by farmers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state Department of the Environment, compiled by the Environmental Integrity Project, shows manure from poultry farms on the Eastern Shore is being overapplied to farmland and, even when exported from our animal farms, does not usually leave the county of origin. The manure is staying on our land and running into our local rivers and streams. We need to better protect public health and clean water by ensuring accuracy and transparency on manure reporting…