Harford County Climate Action

The "Save Abingdon Woods Coalition" worked for over 3 years to stop destruction of Abingdon Woods in order to build what is now called the BTC III I-95 Logistics Center. Harford County's Glassman/Boniface administration and County Council members (except Andre Johnson) facilitated this development in many ways. We did not get meaningful help from State reps, either.* County granted the last critical grading and stormwater (mis)management permits on 6/29/22, right before the holiday weekend and the end of the County Council's session. Chainsaws arrived on 7/5/22. With representation from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Legal Department, we filed a motion for a restraining order and temporary injunction to stop the destruction. Judge Atkins-Tobin denied the injunction on 8/3/22, saying that our side had not shown that there would be irreparable harm if we weren't granted a 28-day pause in tree-cutting and that we were unlikely to win the case being decided by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

However, on August 26, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in our favor! The ABP Forest Conservation Plan will now be challenged in Harford County Court... if there is any forest left by the time this goes to trial. Any donation will help us with the legal fees needed to file for a second injunction and the pending case on the Forest Conservation Plan.

Of the money raised, approximately $4,000 has already been spent on legal fees. We need the remainder, and more, to cover upcoming fees. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to neighbors and the citizens of Harford County and Maryland!!

Thanks on behalf of the children who attend William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School, who will be breathing diesel emissions from the tractor trailers that will be driving in and out of more than 2 million square feet of e-commerce/freight terminal space.

Thanks on behalf of those who peacefully worship at St Francis de Sales Church and the Harford County Education Society's Masjid Al Falaah. 

Thanks on behalf of the animals that live in this forest. 

Thanks on behalf of the future; we can't be losing forests in this era of climate over-heating!

Tracey Waite, Chair, Save Abingdon Woods Coalition

[email redacted]

*Any Harford County State- or Local representatives who are willing to work with us on strengthening forest conservation laws can reach out to me any time.