Air & Radiation Management Administration
Northwest Hospital Center – Baltimore County -- On August 11, MDE signed a Consent Order with Northwest Hospital Center in which Northwest agrees to pay a penalty of $12,000. This Consent Order settles the Notice of Assessed Civil Penalty previously issued to Northwest for violating Maryland’s ambient air quality control laws. The hospital operates a medical waste incinerator subject to federal and state air quality regulations. Northwest’s incinerator failed a stack test for hydrogen chloride emissions. The Hospital has since retested and demonstrated a return to compliance. The penalty payment is due within 30 days. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 050811)
Citrus & Allied Essences, Ltd. – Harford County -- On August 23, MDE issued a Corrective Order and a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the amount of $10,000 to Citrus & Allied to address violations of air quality regulations. During a recent inspection, MDE determined that the Company violated a permit requirement that restricted Company operations. The Company took the limitation on the operation of the reactor vessels to expedite the issuance of the permit, and as such was able to avoid the public participation procedure. The violation occurred over the past eighteen months. Citrus & Allied is a manufacturer of flavorings and fragrances for food and other products, located in Belcamp, Harford County. Status: Citrus and Allied has 10 days to request a meeting and appeal. (Reference #AQCP 05-01-02 and ACP 05-03)
Mercy Medical Center – Baltimore City -- On August 24, MDE received a $7,500 penalty payment from Mercy Medical Center. This penalty payment was required by a recently signed Consent Order between MDE and Mercy. Under the terms of the Consent Order, Mercy is also required to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) worth $12,500. Mercy will submit their proposal for a SEP to MDE for review and approval. The Consent Order settled a Notice of Assessed Civil Penalty that MDE issued to Mercy for violating Maryland’s ambient air quality control laws. The Hospital operates a medical waste incinerator subject to federal and state air quality regulations. Mercy’s incinerator failed stack tests for mercury and particulate matter. The Hospital has since retested and demonstrated a return to compliance. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 050725)
Baltimore Spice – Baltimore County -- On August 30, MDE issued a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the amount of $48,500 to Baltimore Spice for violations of air quality requirements. During an inspection, MDE discovered that the facility violated various air quality requirements that included failure to operate air pollution equipment within specified parameters, and failure to comply with federal air toxics reporting requirements. Baltimore Spice operates a spice manufacturing facility in Owings Mills, Baltimore County. MDE had a similar case with Baltimore Spice in early 2000. Status: Baltimore Spice has 10 days to request a meeting. (Reference #ACP 05-01)
Bitumar USA, Inc. – Anne Arundel County -- On September 6, MDE issued a Corrective Order and a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the amount of $5,000 to Bitumar USA, Inc. in response to air quality violations discovered during an inspection of the facility. Bitumar USA owns and operates a paving and roofing asphalt products plant in northern Anne Arundel County near the Baltimore City Line. During an inspection, MDE determined that the Company violated a permit condition that requires the company not use its untested back-up control device more the 10% of operating time annually. MDE determined during the inspection that the Company operated the back-up control equipment more than 70% of the time last year. Status: Bitumar has 10 days to appeal the Order and request a meeting on the penalty. (Reference #AQCP 05-01-01 and ACP 05-02)
Curtis Bay Energy (formerly Phoenix Services) – Baltimore City -- On September 9, MDE received a $25,000 penalty payment from Curtis Bay Energy. This penalty payment was the first payment of a $75,000 penalty stipulated in a recently-signed Consent Order between MDE and Curtis Bay Energy. The Consent Order requires the company to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, and mercury and pay a $75,000 penalty for past air pollution violations. The Consent Order also requires the Company to perform $125,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects, which include a mercury emission monitoring system, a new innovative mercury control system, and community projects to recycle products containing mercury. Curtis Bay Energy operates the largest medical waste incinerator in Maryland. The facility accepts waste from hospitals and other medical institutions for incineration. Curtis Bay Energy is subject to Federal and State air quality requirements. Past violations include two failed stack tests for mercury emissions and exceedances of limits for carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 050809)
E & S Environmental Services, Interim Asbestos Storage Site – Baltimore County -- On September 12, MDE signed a Consent Order with E & S Environmental Services requiring the Company to comply with asbestos regulations concerning interim storage of asbestos waste. The Consent Order requires the Company to: 1) remove improperly stored asbestos waste and debris from the interim storage site by September 19; 2) to reduce the asbestos waste to below 20 cubic yards; and 3) to provide the Department with the disposal receipts or records of the appropriate disposal of the waste. A Corrective Order had previously been issued to the Company in August. The Company failed to comply with the Corrective Order, leading to the negotiated Consent Decree. The Company must have the interim storage site in compliance by noon Monday, September 19, or face stipulated charges of $500 per day for each violation of the Consent Order. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 050912)
Waste Management Administration
Rayloc, Division of Genuine Parts Company – Washington County – Rayloc was issued a Notice of Violation on August 17, 2005 for violations of Maryland laws and regulations regarding Controlled Hazardous Substances. The notice contained an offer to settle the case for $10,000. Status: If the settlement offer is not accepted, this matter will be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for possible action. (Case Number NOV-06-007)
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. – Baltimore City – Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. was issued a Notice of Violation on August 22, 2005 for violations of their Controlled Hazardous Substances permit and Maryland laws and regulations regarding Controlled Hazardous Substances. The notice contained an offer to settle the case for $10,000. Status: If the settlement offer is not accepted, this matter will be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for possible action. (Case Number NOV-06-009)
Lisle T. Cramer – 14 affected properties – Washington County – Ms. Lisle T. Cramer was issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty equaling $50,000 on August 31, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing to renew registrations of pre-1950 rental properties and failing to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Lisle T. Cramer has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 04-21-7751)
LLC Management, L.L.C. – 5 affected properties – Baltimore City – LLC Management, L.L.C. was issued an Amended Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty equaling $30,000 on August 31, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing to properly register pre-1950 rental properties and failing to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: LLC Management, L.L.C. has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 03-30-6916)
Centreville Plaza, Inc. – Queen Anne’s County – Centreville Plaza, Inc. was issued a Complaint, Order and Administrative Penalty equaling $5,400 on August 16, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Oil Control Laws and regulations regarding underground storage tank systems at their facility located at 610 Ruthsburg Road in Queen Anne’s County. Status:Centreville Plaza, Inc has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number OCP-94-0864QA).
Puffinburger Inc. – Somerset County – Puffinburger Inc. was issued a Complaint, Order and Administrative Penalty equaling $5,000 on August 16, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Oil Control Laws and regulations regarding insurance requirements for underground storage tank systems. Status: Puffinburger Inc. has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number OCP-2004-0689SO).
Water Management Administration
Mexico Farms, LLC -- Allegany County - On July 14, MDE and Mexico Farms, LLC (MFLLC) finalized a penalty settlement agreement whereby MFLLC agreed to pay $7,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund to resolve nuisance odor violations that occurred at the MFLLC Fibred Wastewater Treatment Plant during the period April 9 through June 21, 2004. Status: Case closed. (Reference #PS-06-0161).
LaFarge Corporation -- Frederick County – On September 13 MDE and LaFarge Corporation finalized a penalty settlement agreement whereby LaFarge agreed to pay $14,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund to resolve alleged discharge permit violations at the LaFarge Frederick Quarry. Status: Case closed. (Reference #PS-06-0184).
LaFarge Corporation -- Baltimore County – On August 1 MDE and LaFarge Corporation finalized a penalty settlement agreement whereby LaFarge agreed to pay $10,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund to resolve alleged unauthorized discharges from the LaFarge Marriottsville Quarry. Status: Case closed. (Reference #PS-06-0168).
Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant -- Worcester County – On September 7, 2005, MDE issued a mandatory penalty of $5,940 to Worcester County Department of Public Works for significant nitrogen effluent violations of State Discharge Permit 97-DP-0708 that occurred in May and June 2004 at the Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant. Status: Case pending. (Reference #PS-06-0182).
State Highway Administration -- Garrett County –On September 5 MDE and the State Highway Administration (SHA) finalized an administrative consent order regarding improvements to the Lake Louise acidic leachate wetlands treatment system located in Keyser’s Ridge. Under the terms of the consent order, SHA is required to implement a corrective action plan to improve treatment system effectiveness in order to ensure compliance with discharge permit effluent limits established by State Discharge Permit 92-DP-1558. Status: Case closed. (Reference #CO-06-0180).
C&D Concrete, LLC -- Caroline County – On July 29, MDE and C&D Concrete, LLC finalized an administrative settlement agreement resolving water pollution violations at C&D Concrete’s Salisbury, Easton, Queenstown, Cambridge, Bishopville and Goldsboro plants. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, C&D Concrete, LLC has agreed to pay $8,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund to resolve the violations. Status: Case closed. (Reference #SA-06-0165).
Water and Sediment Pollution Penalties – Statewide: During the period August 15, 2005 to September 15, 2005, MDE collected an additional $25,050 to the Sediment Fund in resolution of alleged erosion and sediment control/sediment pollution violations from five sites and $7,250 to the Clean Water Fund in resolution of alleged water pollution violations at five facilities.
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