BALTIMORE, MD (October 2, 2009) Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Water Management Administration issued two enforcement actions between August 15 and August 30, 2008, with penalties totaling $11,600.
"Reducing sediment pollution is critical to restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay," said MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson. "Active enforcement of these laws will help Maryland meet our goals under the Chesapeake Bay agreement."
MDE’s Water Management Administration works to manage Maryland’s surface and groundwater resources, maintain safe and reliable drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment systems, and restore and preserve water and wetlands through implementation of state and federally mandated pollution control and resource management programs.
The following enforcement actions resulted due to violations of Environmental Article Title 4 and Title 9 laws:
Verizon Maryland LLC, Anne Arundel County Permittee paid $6,600 penalty to MDE’s Sediment Fund on August 26, 2008, for failure to implement and maintain sediment and erosion controls and employ best management practices for working in nontidal wetlands while installing an underground utility with a directional bore operation that resulted in sediment pollution in Bacon Ridge Branch.
A. Murren, Anne Arundel County Permittee paid a $5,000 penalty to MDE’s Sediment Fund and a $500 penalty to the Clean Water Fund on August 25, 2008, for failure to implement an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, failure to implement and maintain sediment and erosion controls, and failure to follow best management practices for working in nontidal wetlands while installing a sanitary sewer for the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) at Thurgood Marshall/Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The MAA concurs with MDE findings against the contractor.
Environment Article, Title 4 of Maryland Law requires property owners to obtain an approved erosion and sediment control plan prior to performing an earth grading operation. This approval is obtained through the local soil conservation district of the county in which the work is to be performed. The requirement that an individual obtain erosion and sediment control approval before starting construction ensures that an assessment of the impact of the work is made before the work is performed and that impacts are minimized.
Environment Article, Title 9 of Maryland Law requires any activity involving earth disturbance over one acre must have a general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity. This permit requires the implementation of an approved erosion and sediment control plan prior to performing an earth grading operation as well as self-monitoring inspections of the erosion and sediment controls. By obtaining and implementing this permit and the erosion and sediment control plan the construction activity may be performed in a manner that minimizes impacts to the aquatic resources that may result from sediment deposition or other pollutants. Approval is obtained through the MDE as delegated from the Environmental Protection Agency.
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