Maryland February 19, 2009 - The Maryland Board of Public Works approved $853,558 in grants to improve wastewater treatment, reduce flooding, cut nitrogen from septic systems, and clean up contaminated sites to protect public health. 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 is a critical component of Maryland’s 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 clean up contaminated groundwater to protect public health and the environment for all Marylanders.”

The following projects were approved in the following locations:

• Klein Family Limited Partnership – Carroll County

  This $100,000 grant from the Bay Restoration Fund will upgrade two on site sewage disposal facilities on two separate commercial properties. Once fully installed, the upgraded facilities will reduce more than 1,120 pounds of nitrogen annually from going into local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

• Gordon Street Lift Station Rehabilitation Project – Town of Secretary – Dorchester County

  This $3,980 grant increase, in addition to previous grants of $350,000, will completely rehabilitate the only major wastewater lift station serving 236 residential and 10 commercial sites in the Town of Secretary. The upgrade will include the installation of new piping, valves, pumps, flow meter, emergency storage tank, and other station related equipment. The existing 30-year-old pump station is well past its useful life. This project will correct wastewater overflows and reduce nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

• Walnut Lane Project -- Acquisition & Demonstration – Cecil County

  This $40,000 grant from the Comprehensive Flood Management Grant Program will provide for the acquisition, demolition, and site restoration of a residential structure located in Elkton that has experienced repetitive flooding. Restoration will include the creation of wetlands, the planting of riparian habitat, and will provide for natural flood management. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing additional funding.

• Waterview Hotel/Nanticoke Scrap Tire Stockpile Cleanup – Wicomico County

  This grant increase of $120,000, in addition to previous grants of $250,000, from the Maryland Used Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund will clean up 123 tons of scrap tires (equivalent to approximately 11,000 passenger size tires) along the one acre of shoreline of the Nanticoke River located in Wicomico County. Cleanup operations are anticipated to commence in Spring 2009.

• Dwyer Site Superfund Site – Elkton, Cecil County

  This grant increase of $589,578, in addition to previous grants of $1,300,000, will clean up this 72-acre State Superfund orphan cleanup site once used for manufacturing munitions during World War II. The property is held in trust by the responsible party’s grandchildren, who are therefore exempt from responsibility for the cleanup by statute. No manufacturing activity has occurred since the plant closed in the 1950s. The groundwater under the site is contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Chesapeake GeoSciences Inc. will complete the assessment work necessary to determine the best course of remediation and then oversee the cleanup of the site.

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