BALTIMORE, MD (November 5, 2008) - The Maryland Board of Public Works today approved over $6.6 million in Bay Restoration Funds to upgrade septic systems and $1.5 million to upgrade a wastewater treatment plant in Havre de Grace, all of which will limit nutrient pollution in Maryland waterways.

Other grants to upgrade combined sewer overflows and improve sewer systems will also reduce bacteria and nutrient pollution, while a grant to improve water filtration will protect public health. In addition, the Board approved $1.8 million to limit pollution and health hazards as part of the State’s nationally recognized recycled scrap tire program. The Board is comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Protecting our environment and our water quality by reducing nutrient pollution from wastewater and failing septic systems is a critical component of our efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and our local waterways, and we are fortunate to have funding programs in place to do that,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “It’s also critical that we ensure that Marylanders have access to safe and abundant drinking water.”

Governor O’Malley also said: “Today we are also pleased to see the State’s successful scrap tire program taking what could be an environmental problem — used scrap tires that when dumped can harm our environment and spread disease—and turning it into an opportunity to create public playgrounds for our children, invent new uses for tires, and educate citizens about recycling.”

Bay Restoration Fund - Onsite Sewage Disposal/Septic Upgrade in Six Counties
The following organizations will receive over $6.6 million of Bay Restoration Funds to upgrade onsite sewage disposal systems (septic systems) to remove nitrogen. MDE solicited proposals from all counties in the State and received seven applicants, all of which were awarded a grant. Once fully implemented, these upgrades will reduce over 6,000 pounds of nitrogen from entering Maryland waterways by installing 400 septic upgrades with nutrient removing technology.

• Bay Restoration Fund - Individual Onsite Sewage Disposal/Septic Upgrade Grant - J. R. Enterprises

  J.R. Enterprises of Howard County will receive $65,000 to assist with the cost of a pre-treatment system to remove nitrogen from a failing onsite sewage disposal system at the Inwood shopping center and prevent 320 pounds of nitrogen per year from entering Maryland waters.

• Bay Restoration Fund - Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade - City of Havre de Grace

  The Board of Public Works approved a grant increase of $1.5 million using Bay Restoration Funds, in addition to previous grants of $11.2 million in July 2007 and $3 million in October 2008, to upgrade the existing Havre de Grace Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Harford County. The upgrade involves planning, design, and construction of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities. The existing WWTP capacity will also be increased from 2.3 to 3.3 million gallons per day to accommodate planned growth within city limits with financing through a State Revolving Fund loan supported by local funding sources. When completed, the plant will achieve annual effluent quality of 3.0 mg/l for total nitrogen and 0.3 mg/l for total phosphorous. The project will reduce nutrient loadings into the Chesapeake Bay from this plant by 66 percent. Under the Bay Restoration Fund, Maryland is taking significant steps to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater treatment plant effluent to state-of-the-art levels. When all 66 major plants are upgraded, 7.5 million pounds of nitrogen and 260,000 pounds of phosphorus will be reduced annually. The ENR upgrades are scheduled to be completed in early 2010

• Evitts Creek Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination Grant - City of Cumberland

  The Board approved $500,000, in addition to previous grants of $225,000 and $863,573, to improve water treatment facilities for the proposed Evitts Creek Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project in Allegany County, part of the Cumberland Combined Sewer (CSO) elimination plan, to upgrade the existing wastewater pumping station and the force main to carry the flow generated in the sewer basin to the Cumberland wastewater treatment plant. Upgrading the pumping station and force main will reduce the frequency/volume of combined sewer overflows to Evitts Creek and the Potomac River, ultimately reducing nitrogen inputs to the Chesapeake Bay. A CSO occurs when a combined sewer system (sanitary and stormwater conveyed in a single system of pipes) is above its rated handling and treatment capacity. Eliminating CSOs is an important component in Maryland’s effort to reduce nutrient pollution.

• Frostburg Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination Grant - City of Frostburg

  The Board approved over $118,000, in addition to previous grants of $650,443 and $800,000, for this project in Allegany County, which is a component of the City of Frostburg’s Long-Term Control Plan for eliminating combined sewer overflows. The project will improve the existing sanitary and combined sewer infrastructure and consists of the planning, design, and construction of supplemental gravity and pressure and sewers, replacement and rehabilitation of sewer lines, upgrades to existing pumping stations, and other related improvements to prevent combined sewer overflows into Sand Spring Run, a tributary to the Potomac River.

• Westernport Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination Grant - Town of Westernport

  The Board approved a grant increase of $630,940, in addition to a previously approved grant of $2,223,750, for the Westernport Combined Sewer Overflow project in Allegany County. The project entails planning, design, and construction to eliminate the combined sewer overflows problem in the Town of Westernport. Corrective measures will include the separation and replacement of pipes, pipe joints, manhole covers, and walls and will benefit public health improve water quality for residents within the drainage area of George’s Creek and the Upper Potomac River. The project is part of ongoing efforts to bring the Town of Westernport into compliance with federal and State requirements.

• Oaklyn Manor Sewer Phase II - Harford County

  The Board approved a grant increase of over $105,500, in addition to a previous grant of $490,000, to extend the sanitary sewer into the Oaklyn Manor area in Harford County. The Oaklyn Manor area is experiencing septic system problems resulting in public health and safety risks. The project will transport wastewater collected from the area to the Sod Run Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment and disposal and will provide community wastewater collection system to low-income residents.

• Sewer Infiltration/Inflow Evaluations - Maryland Environmental Service

  The Board approved a Biological Nutrients Removal Grant of $135,738, in addition to a previous grant of $550,000, for a statewide study of wastewater collection systems throughout the state. These evaluations will provide the basis for infrastructure improvements of existing systems within the State designated Priority Funding Areas.

• Westernport Water Filtration Plant Upgrade – Town of Westernport

  The Board approved $225,000, in addition to a previous grant of $863,573, to upgrade the existing Westernport water treatment plant processes and finished water hydraulics. This includes replacing outdated facilities and equipment with more current technology to improve water quality as well as constructing a new elevated water storage tank and pumping system to improve water pressure for residents. This project will provide a high quality drinking water supply and reliability and flexibility in plant operations, and it will address regulatory and technical concerns to result in a higher degree of compliance with federal and State regulations.

• Maryland’s Scrap Tire Program

  Today the Board of Public Works approved Maryland’s Scrap Tire annual budget for FY 2009 for a total of more than $1.8 million. This year’s budget includes funding for four scrap tire projects and one scrap tire stockpile cleanup. This request will be funded through the Used Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund.

  The board approval will provide funds for refurbishing and continuing long-term maintenance of existing scrap tire playgrounds located in the State park system and for construction and/or renovation of school playgrounds, athletic fields, running tracks, and/or other recreational athletic surfaces at various Maryland public schools utilizing scrap tires. The Board also approved funding for a Citizen Drop Off Day in across the State to assist Maryland residents by providing a free responsible disposal option for homeowners who have accumulated a small number of scrap tires.

  A major scrap tire cleanup was also approved for a site in Davidsonville in Anne Arundel County. This cleanup will remove the equivalent of approximately 57,000 passenger size tires.

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