Air & Radiation Management Administration
Curtis Bay Energy, Baltimore City--On November 1, Curtis Bay Energy (CBE) made its final $25,000 penalty payment as required by a recently-signed Consent Order between MDE and Curtis Bay Energy. This payment is the third and last installment of a $75,000 penalty contained in the Order for air quality violations. The Consent Order also includes provisions for Mercury Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) in the amount of $125,000, as well as numerous improvements to plant operations. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 050809)
Baltimore Spice, Baltimore County--On November 11, MDE issued a Notice of Assessed Civil Penalty in the amount of $45,000 to Baltimore Spice for violations of air quality requirements. During an inspection, MDE discovered that the facility violated various air quality requirements, including failure to operate air pollution equipment within specified parameters, and failure to comply with federal air toxics reporting requirements. Corrective actions have been implemented by the Company to resolve the noncompliance issues. MDE had a similar case with Baltimore Spice in early 2000. Baltimore Spice operates a spice processing facility in Owings Mills, Baltimore County. Status: Baltimore Spice has 30 days to request a hearing. (Reference #AQCP 05-01A)
Sasol North America, Baltimore City--On December 1, MDE signed a Consent Order with Sasol to settle an enforcement case arising from the illegal release of chemicals into the atmosphere. In the Order, Sasol agreed to pay a penalty of $30,000 for the violations. Sasol has corrected the cause of the incident. The case resulted from the release of several thousand pounds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), resulting in violations of air quality regulations. Sasol, located in Fairfield, manufactures an intermediate material that is used to make soaps and detergents. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #AQCP 051201)
VAC PAC, Inc., Baltimore City--On December 1, MDE received payment of $8,000 from VAC PAC, Inc. to resolve violations of air quality requirements. VAC PAC is a printer located in Baltimore City that prints labels on plastic bags used for bread. During an inspection, ARMA 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. The company has since corrected all issues related to this case. Status: Case Closed. (Reference #ACP 05-05A)
Gas Station Air Pollution Cases--On December 2, MDE issued Assessed Civil Penalties to nine gas stations for violations of Stage II Vapor Recovery regulations. The assessed penalties range from $1,000 to $3,500. These facilities were previously issued Corrective Orders and Proposed Civil Penalties. Compliance measures were taken to resolve the violations. As background, MDE conducted two outreach workshops for gas stations last year. Additionally, MDE provided compliance assistance to hundreds of stations over the past few years, most of which made efforts to achieve compliance in a timely fashion. Status: The stations have 30 days to request a hearing.
Corrective Orders Issued for Construction Dust, Prince George’s County--On December 2, MDE issued a Corrective Order to two construction companies (Manekin LLC and National Wrecking Corporation) for creating air pollution at a large Prince George’s County construction site. Specific citations in the order included failing to use reasonable precautions to control particulate matter, conducting an open burn without a permit, and creating an air pollution nuisance. The action was based on previous violation notices issued by ARMA to Manekin and National Wrecking. The case was initiated by dust complaints from employees in a nearby building located adjacent to the construction site. The order requires the companies to submit a plan to ARMA detailing their plans to control dust. Status: The companies have 10 days to appeal. (Reference #AQCP 05-11-01)
Waste Management Administration
LENMAR Corporation, Baltimore City – LENMAR Corporation was issued a Complaint, Order and Administrative Penalty November 16, 2005 for violations of Maryland laws and regulations regarding Controlled Hazardous Substances. The Complaint and Order notice contained a Penalty of $5,000. Status: LENMAR Corporation has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number C-O-06-020)
Gayatri Ltd. and Laxmi Ltd., Cecil County – Gayatri Ltd. and Laxmi Ltd. were issued a Complaint, Order and Administrative Penalty on November 18, 2005 for numerous violations of Maryland’s Oil Control Laws at their facility in Conowingo, Maryland. The Complaint and Order contained a penalty in the amount of $43,000. Status: Gayatri Ltd. and Laxmi Ltd. have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number COV-2005-007)
Stere Granzulea and Carmen Granzulea – 4 affected properties, Baltimore City – Stere Granzulea and Carmen Granzulea were issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $40,000 on November 15, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing to register their properties and failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Stere Granzulea and Carmen Granzulea have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2005-30-8243)
Charles M. Shriver, Jr. and Ruth F. Shriver – 4 affected properties, Carroll County – Charles M. Shriver, Jr. and Ruth F. Shriver were issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $17,000 on November 18, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing to register their properties, and failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Charles M. Shriver, Jr. and Ms. Ruth F. Shriver have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2005-06-8158)
Educational Capital Trust Foundation and IFM General Management and Alden Hanson – 34 affected properties,Baltimore City -- Educational Capital Trust Foundation and IFM General Management and Mr. Alden Hanson were issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $70,000 on November 22, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing register their properties, and failure to bring their affected properties into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Educational Capital Trust Foundation and IFM General Management and Alden Hanson have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2003-30-6122)
500 North Robinson, LLC and King Bennett, Sr. – 5 affected properties, Baltimore City – 500 North Robinson, LLC and King Bennett, Sr. were issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $35,000 on December 2, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: 500 North Robinson, LLC and King Bennett, Sr. have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2005-30-7763)
UMF Siddique, Inc. – 1 affected property, Baltimore City – UMF Siddique, Inc. was issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $16,000 on December 2, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing to register their property and failing to bring their property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: UMF Siddique, 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 2005-30-8236)
Dennis E. Liller – 3 affected properties, Allegany County –Dennis E. Liller was issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $15,000 on December 3, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Dennis E. Liller has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2005-01-8052)
Lames Stewart and Audrey Bowden – 5 affected properties, Baltimore City – Mr. Lames Stewart and Ms. Audrey Bowden were issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $40,000 on December 3, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing register their properties and failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: Lames Stewart and Audrey Bowden have 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2004-30-7449)
John I. Tadros – 3 affected properties, Baltimore City – John I. Tadros was issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty equaling $20,000 on December 3, 2005 for violating Maryland’s Lead Laws by failing register his properties and failure to bring each affected property into compliance with risk reduction standards. Status: John I. Tadros has 10 days to request a hearing on the Complaint and Order and 30 days to request a hearing on the Penalty. (Case Number 2005-30-8085)
Water Management Administration
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties – On December 7, a civil consent decree between Defendant Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and Plaintiffs the State of Maryland (MDE) and the United States of America (EPA) and Plaintiff-Intervenors (Anacostia Watershed Society, Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Inc., Friends of Sligo Creek, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Patuxent River Keeper), was entered in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland regarding elimination of sanitary sewer overflows from the WSSC sanitary sewer collection system. Under the terms of the consent decree, WSSC is required to implement over the next 14 years numerous reporting, monitoring, inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement remedial measures for its sewer collection system in order to eliminate sewer overflows. WSSC is also required to pay a civil penalty to the Maryland Clean Water Fund of $550,000 and a penalty of $550,000 to the United States Treasury. In addition, WSSC is required to perform supplemental environmental projects in the amount of $4.4 million toward the purchase or acquisition of Patuxent Reservoir buffer properties and easements for water supply protection; private property inflow elimination; and Western Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant winter denitrification through methanol addition. WSSC is also required to pay stipulated penalties to MDE and EPA for future sanitary sewer overflows and violations of consent order requirements. Status: Case closed. (Reference # Civil Action No. PJM-04-3679).
Paul P. Boccone, L.L.M., Washington County – On November 28, MDE issued an administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty against Paul. P. Boccone, L.L.M. (“Boccone”) for alleged violations of Maryland sediment control and sediment pollution laws and regulations on property located at 19310 Manor Church Road in Boonsboro, Maryland. The Complaint alleges that land disturbing activities were conducted at the site without an approved erosion and sediment control plan resulting in unlawful sediment discharges to an unnamed tributary to Antietam Creek. The order requires Boccone to install approved sediment controls and to stabilize the site. MDE is seeking a penalty of $15,000 for sediment control violations and $30,000 for sediment pollution violations in this matter. Status: Case pending opportunity for appeal. (Reference #AO-06-0224)
Isgood, LLC, Harford County – On November 21 MDE and Isgood, LLC finalized an administrative consent order regarding improvements to the Bull on the Beach Restaurant subsurface treatment system located in Churchville. Under the terms of the consent order, Isgood, LLC is required to submit to MDE within 30 days for review and approval a plan and time schedule of corrective actions to enable the treatment system to meet the effluent limits of State Groundwater Discharge Permit 03-DP-3451. Status: Case closed. (Reference # CO-06-0216).
Water and Sediment Pollution Penalties – Statewide
During the period November 15, 2005 to December 15, 2005, MDE collected an additional $17,200 to the Clean Water Fund in resolution of alleged water pollution violations from 15 facilities and $8,300 to the Sediment Fund in resolution of alleged sediment control violations at three sites.
> Back
to Issue Cover
|
