Air & Radiation Management Administration
Chesapeake Regional Cancer Center – St. Mary’s County – On April 19, MDE issued a Complaint, Order and Administrative Penalty in the amount of $50,000 to Chesapeake Regional Cancer Center for failure to comply with regulations governing the owning or operating of radiation machines. Violations included: failing to renew its radiation machine facility registration; failing to have its radiation machine State certified; failing to adhere to the (ALARA) principles requiring that radiation exposure be as low as reasonably achievable; failing to maintain control of radiation machines and sources of radiation in an unprotected area; failing to render the radiation machines inoperable or remove them; and failing to direct the operation of a radiation machine through administrative controls to ensure that the requirements of these regulations are met. Furthermore, this Complaint has been issued because Chesapeake Regional Cancer Center violated regulations governing the use and storage of radioactive material by failing to control and maintain constant surveillance of licensed radioactive material in an unrestricted area; conduct tests for leakage of the radioactive source; conduct a quarterly inventory of the radioactive source; notify the Department prior to relinquishing control of a permanent use address; and failing to maintain an authorized Radiation Safety Officer to oversee licensed activities. Status: A request for appeal was submitted by the facility on May 6 and is in the process of being forwarded to the Office of Administrative Hearings. (RHP Case Number 04-29)
FMC Corporation – Baltimore City – On April 22, pursuant to a recently signed Consent Order, MDE received payment of $15,000 from FMC Corporation (FMC) for air quality violations arising from an air release incident. Emissions from the incident violated volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions standards. In the Consent Order, FMC also agreed to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) for at least $15,000. The SEP will be at one or more local schools, and requires FMC to hire a contractual firm to evaluate and repair the boilers to improve combustion efficiency. FMC Corporation (FMC) owns and operates a chemical plant that produces commercial herbicides, pesticides, etc. Status: SEP to be completed. (Reference #AQCP 042205)
Lehigh Cement Company – Carroll County – On April 27, MDE received a penalty payment of $90,000 from the Lehigh Cement Company (Lehigh) as part of the Consent Decree signed between Lehigh and MDE to bring Lehigh’s Union Bridge facility into compliance. The Consent Decree requires Lehigh to pay the $90,000 penalty and make short-term and long-term improvements to the Union Bridge facility. The improvements include the curtailment of operations in the Facility’s craneway building, enclosure of the craneway building, paving of plant roads, installation of a truck wash and railcar vacuum system, and the installation of new cement processing equipment. The Consent Decree addresses federal air toxics violations, visible emission violations, and nuisance dust violations for the period covering early spring 2004 through December 2004. Status:Certain corrective actions still pending. (Reference # AQCP 042705)
Building Abatement Demolition Company (BADCO), former Safeway Site –Montgomery County – On April 29, MDE issued a Notice of Assessed Civil Penalty in the amount of $10,000 to BADCO to address violations of asbestos regulations. BADCO has 30 days to request a hearing on the penalty. The Company violated asbestos requirements by failing to notify before engaging in demolition operations at a facility, and disturbing approximately 10,000 square feet of regulated asbestos-containing material. Status: BADCO has 30 days to request a hearing. (Reference #ACP 03-23A)
Victor Graphics – Baltimore City – On April 29, MDE issued a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the amount of $5,000 to Victor Graphics for air quality violations. Victor Graphics operates a commercial printing facility in Baltimore City. During an inspection, a MDE inspector determined that the Company installed and operated a printing press without first obtaining the required permit from MDE. Printing presses are a source of volatile organic compound emissions. The Company has since applied for and received the air quality permit. Status: Victor Graphics had 10 days to request a meeting. (Reference # ACP 05-04)
VAC PAC, Inc. – Baltimore City – On May 5, MDE issued a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty to VAC PAC, Inc. in the amount of $10,000 for violations of air quality requirements. VAC PAC is a printer located in Baltimore City that prints labels on plastic bags used for bread. Printing presses are a source of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. During an inspection, MDE determined that the Company violated a permit condition requiring the company to test its control device twice annually. The Company failed to conduct the tests in the last calendar year. Periodic testing provides assurance that the VOC control device is working properly. Status: VAC PAC had 10 days to request a meeting. (Reference #ACP 05-05)
Sasol North America– Baltimore City– On May 5, MDE issued an “opportunity to settle letter” to the Company for air quality violations. Sasol, located in Fairfield, manufactures an intermediate material that is used to make soaps and detergents. Sasol reported a volatile organic compound (VOC) release of several thousand pounds of material, resulting in a violation of air quality regulations. The letter provides an opportunity for Sasol to discuss the violations and potential settlement prior to the Department filing formal charges in court. Status: Sasol had 10 days to respond to MDE. (Reference #AQCP 050505)
Water Management Administration
Edesville, Kent County – On May 5, MDE finalized an administrative consent order with the Kent County Commissioners regarding improvements to the Edesville Wastewater Treatment Plant located at Piney Neck Road. Under the terms of the consent order, Kent County is required to complete connection of the Edesville system to the Rock Hall Wastewater Treatment Plant within three years and to submit a plan and schedule for proper abandonment of the Edesville plant lagoons and disposal of sludge within 90 days of completion of the connection to Rock Hall. Kent County has committed under its approved plan and schedule to complete the connection to Rock Hall by October 15, 2006. Status: Case closed. (Reference# CO-05-0116).
Water and Sediment Pollution Penalties – Statewide – During the period April 15, 2005 to May 15 MDE collected an additional $9,600 to the Sediment Fund in resolution of alleged erosion and sediment control/sediment pollution violations from three sites and $ 15,835 to the Clean Water Fund in resolution of alleged water pollution violations at nine facilities.
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