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.
Chalk Point Power, LLC – Prince George’s County
On May 21, 2024, MDE issued a $49,000 penalty action to the Chalk Point power plant in Prince George’s County to address alleged air pollution violations. Chalk Point failed to operate emission controls for combustion turbines. The penalty has been paid.
Constellation Perryman Station – Harford County
On April 12, 2024, MDE issued a $18,000 penalty action to Constellation Energy Perryman in Harford County to address alleged air pollution violations. Constellation Perryman Station failed a stack test for particulate matter. The penalty has been paid.
Land Pollution Enforcement Actions
Oil Control
The Oil Control Program has highly trained staff to help companies and individuals ensure that their Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) are in compliance with State and federal regulations. All regulated USTs within Maryland are required to be registered through the Underground Storage Tank Notification Program. All USTs storing motor fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel) must meet specific technical standards (corrosion protection, spill/overfill prevention, leak detection and financial responsibility) or be removed from the ground.
Interstate Fuel & Auto Care – Prince George’s County
On June 5, 2024, MDE issued a Notice of Violation to resolve alleged violations of Maryland’s underground storage tank law and seeking a $15,000 penalty. The Notice of Violation and penalty have been resolved.
Liberty Road Services Inc. – Carroll County
On March 13, 2024, MDE issued a Notice of Violation to resolve alleged violations of Maryland’s underground storage tank law and seeking a $15,000 penalty. The Notice of Violation and penalty have been resolved.
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.
State law requires that, prior to performing construction activity, a person obtain and implement a Soil Conservation District-approved erosion and sediment control plan for any proposed land clearing or earth disturbance greater than 5,000 square feet that must be maintained for the life of the project. It is unlawful for any person to introduce soil or sediment into waters of the State or to place soil or sediment in a condition or location where it is likely to be washed into waters of the State.
State law requires that any activity involving earth disturbance over one acre requires 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 earth grading operations as well as self-monitoring inspections of the erosion and sediment controls.
Maryland Transit Solutions – Montgomery and Prince George’s counties
On May 30, 2024, MDE issued two penalty settlements totaling $180,731 to resolve alleged violations involving sediment discharges and a failure to install and maintain adequate erosion and sediment controls in 2022 and 2023 at three segments of the Purple Line Project. The penalties were paid in full.
4309 Shore Drive Investments LLC, Baltimore County
On April 15, 2024, MDE entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the placing of unauthorized structures in tidal waters at Tiki Lee’s Dock Bar. The total penalty issued was $55,000, with $35,000 held in abeyance. The remaining $20,000 is to be paid in full by August 2024.
Cedar Mobile Home Park WWTP – Caroline County
On May 16, 2024, MDE issued a $34,800 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of the facility’s discharge permit for August 2019 through August 2023. The penalty is to be paid in full by May 2026.
WSSC – Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties
On April 8, 2024, MDE issued $27,625 in stipulated penalties to resolve sanitary sewer discharges that occurred from WSSC’s collection system and one failure to report a sanitary sewer discharge in 2023. The stipulated penalties were paid in full.
WSSC – Montgomery County
On April 8, 2024, MDE issued a $26,667 penalty settlement to resolve an alleged violation of the General Permit for Discharges from Tanks, Pipes, Other Liquid Containment Structures, Dewatering Activities, and Groundwater Remediation in January 2024. The penalty was paid in full.
Atlas Container Corporation – Anne Arundel County
On May 8, 2024, MDE issued a $24,607 penalty settlement to resolve an unauthorized discharge in January 2023 and the facility’s delay in applying for coverage under the general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity. The penalty was paid in full.
Town of Sharptown – Wicomico County
On May 8, 2024, MDE issued a $24,000 penalty settlement to resolve alleged effluent violations from August 2018 through January 2024 at the Sharptown Wastewater Treatment Plant. The penalty was paid in full.
Chaney Materials, LLC – Wicomico, Dorchester, Talbot, and Anne Arundel counties
On June 10, 2024, MDE entered into a settlement agreement and consent order to resolve alleged violations for discharging pollutants without a permit at six locations between December 2018 and September 2021. A $15,000 penalty was paid in full.
Harford Community College WWTP – Harford County
On April 15, 2024, MDE issued a $15,000 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of the facility’s discharge permit for September 2018 through May 2023. The penalty was paid in full.
Howard County Sanitary Sewer Overflows
On April 23, 2024, MDE issued a $12,938 penalty settlement to resolve sanitary sewer overflows and unauthorized discharges from the Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant from January 2023 through December 2023. The penalty was paid in full.
Banks Auto Recycling – Cecil County
On April 8, 2024, MDE issued an $11,390 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of the general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity from January 2019 through February 2023. The penalty was paid in full.
Southern States – Frederick County
On May 30, 2024, MDE issued an $11,000 penalty settlement to resolve violations of the general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity for January 2021 through January 2024. The penalty was paid in full.
Marshall Ruby & Sons – Allegany County
On June 11, 2024, MDE issued a $10,221 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of the general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity for January 2019 through October 2023. The penalty is to be paid in full by June 2025.
Clise Salvage Yard – Allegany County
On June 27, 2024, MDE issued a $10,000 penalty settlement to resolve alleged violations of the general permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity for January 2019 through October 2023. The penalty was paid in full.
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