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.
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.
Curtis Bay Energy, LP – Baltimore City
On December 22, 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 $132,500.
Lead Poisoning Prevention
The Department of the Environment’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program serves as the coordinating agency for statewide efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Under the 1994 "Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act,” the Department assures compliance with mandatory requirements for lead risk reduction in rental units built before 1978, maintains a statewide listing of registered and inspected units and provides blood lead surveillance through a registry of test results of all children tested in Maryland. Alleged violations typically involve a failure to register properties or meet lead risk-reduction standards. In addition, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program accredits and enforces performance standards for inspectors and contractors working in lead hazard reduction. The following action is for a contractor and inspector alleged to be out of compliance with state regulations:
Leadspec Inc. and Brian MacIver – Baltimore, Baltimore County
On November 13, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement and consent order to resolve alleged violations of Maryland’s lead inspector and contractor law. The defendants agreed to a $60,000 penalty.
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.
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore City
On November 15, 2023, MDE, Blue Water Baltimore, Inc., and the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, entered into a consent decree to resolve alleged violations at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant from January 2019 through the present. The consent decree included a $4.75 million civil penalty, 30% of that total penalty to be paid in installments through July 31, 2025, 30% of to be held in abeyance pending completion of corrective actions by applicable deadlines, and 40% of the total penalty to be set aside for competitive grants to improve water quality or restore aquatic habitat in the Patapsco and Back River watersheds.
World Recycling Company - Prince George’s County and Baltimore City
On December 6, 2023, MDE entered into a consent decree to resolve alleged violations of the General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges at World Recycling Company’s Baltimore and Cheverly locations. The consent decree included a $200,000 penalty due in February 2024.
Oyster Harbor Citizens Association - Anne Arundel County
On October 5, 2023, MDE entered into a settlement agreement and consent order with the Oyster Harbor Citizens Association that requires wetland restoration and payment of a $39,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of nontidal wetlands, waterway construction law and water pollution laws related to unauthorized construction or filling in regulated areas.
City of Crisfield - Somerset County
On November 10, 2023, MDE and the City of Crisfield entered into a settlement agreement and consent order to resolve alleged violations of environmental law throughout the city’s sanitary sewer collection system and at the wastewater treatment plant. The consent order includes a plan and schedule for the upgrades to the sewer collection system and pump stations and includes a $31,000 penalty to be paid in monthly installments starting July 1, 2024.
Osprey Property Company-CH East Apartments, LLC. - Calvert County
In November 2023, Osprey Property Company/CH East Apartments, LLC paid $26,223 to MDE to settle alleged sediment pollution law violations and alleged violations of the General Permit For Stormwater Associated With Construction Activity from April 2021 to August 2022 at a construction project.
Town of Greensboro - Caroline County
On December 26, 2023, the Town of Greensboro paid MDE $20,000 to resolve alleged violations of a discharge permit at the Greensboro Wastewater Treatment Plant from January 2020 through January 2023.
TravelCenters of America - Cecil County
On October 13, 2023, MDE issued a $15,636 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of environmental law for unauthorized discharges on August 01, 2023. The penalty was paid in full.
Osprey Property Company-Radio Drive, LLC. Calvert County
In November 2023, Osprey Property Company/Radio Drive, LLC paid $13,770 to the MDE to settle alleged sediment pollution law violations from April 2021 to August 2022, at a construction project.
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