The Maryland Department of the Environment enforces State and federal environmental laws to protect public health and our land, air, water and wetlands resources.
The majority of the Department’s enforcement and compliance activities involve working with permit holders to correct any minor deficiencies with no formal enforcement action taken or financial penalties assessed. This assistance may be the most efficient method to achieve compliance. If an inspection reveals a significant violation, or if minor violations continue to recur and become a significant problem, then enhanced actions are warranted. Such action may take the form of penalties, corrective orders, the filing of injunctions and, in some cases, criminal sanctions.
Below are recent enforcement actions brought to a resolution with financial penalties of $10,000 or more.
Air Pollution and Radiation Enforcement Actions
The Department of the Environment’s Air and Radiation Administration ensures that all citizens and businesses are meeting the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act as well as Maryland’s air pollution control laws. The administration oversees air pollution monitoring, planning and control programs to improve and maintain air quality and a radiation control program to protect the public and occupational workers from unnecessary exposure to radiation from medical equipment and other devices, in conformance with federal and state law.
American Yeast – Baltimore County
On June 29, 2023, MDE issued a $27,000 penalty action to the American Yeast plant to address alleged air pollution violations. American Yeast improperly operated their process and air pollution control equipment, resulting in excess emissions of volatile organic compounds The company paid the penalty and returned to compliance.
East Coast Contractors – Worcester County
On April 10, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement with East Coast Contractors for alleged violations of Maryland’s asbestos regulations during building renovations. Under the agreement, East Coast Contractors paid a $15,000 penalty.
Giles Engineering Associates, Inc. – Anne Arundel County
On April 12, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement to resolve alleged violations of Maryland’s radiation control regulations. The licensee vacated its permanent address without notifying MDE’s Radiological Health Program and transferred its nuclear gauges to an office in Virginia that is not a licensed location. Under the agreement, Giles Engineering Associates, Inc. paid a $15,000 penalty.
Custom Contractors – Howard County
On May 17, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement with Custom Contractors for alleged violations of Maryland’s asbestos regulations. The alleged violations occurred during building renovations. Under the agreement, Custom Contractors paid a $10,000 penalty.
Land Pollution Enforcement Actions
Solid waste
Solid waste acceptance facilities must ensure the proper disposal of solid waste in an environmentally acceptable manner while protecting the public health and the environment, including surface and groundwater. A Refuse Disposal Permit is required for the installation, alteration, or extension of a solid waste acceptance facility. The Permit regulates the design, construction, operation, and monitoring of such facilities to minimize the impact on public health and the environment. Municipal, rubble, and some industrial waste landfills are required to have liners and leachate collection systems that facilitate the collection of leachate and prevent migration of pollutants out of the landfill to adjacent subsurface soil, groundwater, and surface water. With some exceptions, processing and transfer activities are required to be conducted in an enclosed building to control odor, dust, and noise.
Robert W. Stokes, Jr. – Charles County
On April 14, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement and consent order to resolve alleged violations of Maryland’s refuse disposal law. The defendant agreed to a penalty of $10,000.
Water pollution enforcement actions
State law prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into waters of the State, unless such discharge is in compliance with the terms, conditions, and requirements of a discharge permit. A person must hold a discharge permit issued by MDE before the person may construct, install, modify, extend, alter or operate any facility or disposal system or any other outlet or establishment if its operation could cause or increase the discharge of pollutants into waters of the State.
State law requires that a person hold a discharge permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment before the person may construct, install, modify, extend, alter or operate any facility or disposal system or any other outlet or establishment if its operation could cause or increase the discharge of pollutants into waters of the State.
Baltimore County Department of Public Works & Transportation - Baltimore County
On June 14, 2023, MDE issued a joint stipulated penalty with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to resolve alleged violations resulting from sanitary sewer overflows from Baltimore County’s collection system in 2018. Maryland’s portion of the penalty was $184,187.50. The stipulated penalty owed to Maryland was paid in full.
Concrete General, Inc. - Montgomery County
On June 23, 2023, MDE issued a $92,858 penalty settlement to Concrete General, Inc., to resolve alleged violations of its General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities from December 18, 2017 through September 3, 2021. The penalty was paid in full.
Burgess & Commissioners of Middletown - Frederick County
On May 30, 2023, MDE issued a $38,957 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of effluent limits at the Middletown East wastewater treatment plant from May 2018 through October 2022. The penalty was paid in full.
Vidhi Alexandria, LLC - Charles County
On April 5, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement and consent order with Vidhi Alexandria, LLC, to resolve alleged violations of a discharge permit at the Thunderbird Motel wastewater treatment plant. The consent order included a $35,000 penalty that is to be paid in monthly installments through October 2024.
Carroll County Bureau of Utilities - Carroll County
On May 12, 2023, MDE issued a $34,875 penalty settlement to the Carroll County Bureau of Utilities to resolve alleged violations of effluent limits at the Freedom District Water Treatment Plant from May 2018 through October 2022. The penalty was paid in full.
WPN Recycling Company, LLC - Baltimore City
On April 3, 2023, MDE entered into an administrative consent order with WPN Recycling Company. This is a joint order with the Land and Materials Administration and includes a $28,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of refuse disposal regulations and the General Permit for Discharges from Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities. The penalty was paid in full.
Town of Chesapeake Beach - Calvert County
On May 22, 2023, MDE issued a $25,151 penalty settlement to the Town of Chesapeake Beach to resolve alleged violations of the annual maximum loading rate for total nitrogen in 2019 and 2020 and the annual maximum loading rate for total phosphorus in 2020 at the Town of Chesapeake Beach Water Reclamation Treatment Plant. The penalty was paid in full.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission - Montgomery and Prince George’s counties
On April 6, 2023, MDE issued a $24,100 stipulated penalty to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to resolve alleged violations resulting from sanitary sewer overflows from WSSC’s collection system in 2022. The stipulated penalty was paid in full.
W.L.R. Automotive Group, Inc. - Calvert County
On May 11, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement with W.L.R. Automotive Group, Inc.,that includes a $20,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of its groundwater discharge permit from April 2018 through June 2022. The penalty was paid in full.
Oldcastle APG - Anne Arundel County
On April 25, 2023, MDE issued a $12,182 penalty settlement to resolve an unauthorized discharge as a result of activities at Oldcastle APG in August 2022. The penalty was paid in full.
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