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Feds cite county for pollution

EPA finds stormwater violations at highway yards, landfill

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Published 11/14/09

When it comes to cutting down on pollution fouling area rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, it turns out the county government might not be setting the best example.

The U.S. Environmental Protection agency has cited the county after finding several stormwater pollution control problems at two highway maintenance yards and the county landfill.

The violations were mostly related to shoddy maintenance of drains and stormwater holding ponds and documentation, but EPA officials said they were serious problems.

"Any time we see a lack of maintenance, we take it seriously," said Andy Dinsmore, the leader of EPA's regional stormwater team.

Stormwater is a major problem for the Chesapeake Bay. When it rains, the water rushes along rooftops, parking lots and highways, picking up chemicals, nutrients and sediment.

In many parts of the county, storm drains lead directly to streams and creeks.

Other areas have stormwater holding ponds, but there is no treatment of stormwater to remove pollutants.

The county holds a federal permit that covers all of the stormwater drains, pipes and holding ponds. The permit lays out the county's responsibility for maintenance and upgrades to the system, as well as requirements for upgrades.

EPA inspectors found several problems during site visits in December 2008.

At highway maintenance yards in Annapolis and Odenton, as well as at the Millersville Landfill, there were incomplete or out-of-date stormwater pollution prevention plans.

The highway yards also had problems with their stormwater drainage systems. In one case, the stormwater holding pond in Annapolis had trees growing in it, a sign of neglected maintenance.

Matt Diehl, a spokesman for the county, said all the problems are being fixed.

"We're complying with our administrative order, and we're in the process of updating the stormwater programs for the cited facilities," he said. "We're also on schedule to demonstrate full compliance within the time frame agreed upon by the EPA."

The order was issued in July and gave the county 30 days to make the fixes. But at the county's request, the EPA granted an extension until Dec. 31.

If the sites aren't cleaned up or the plans aren't updated by then, the county could face fines totalling up to $50,000 per day.

EPA officials said they held off on publicizing the violations until Thursday because they were collecting several similar cases in the Chesapeake Bay area, so that there would be "more of an impact" by publicizing them all at once.

David Sternberg, an EPA spokesman, said the agency's "communications strategy" is to show that, "this is something that the federal government is taking very seriously."

Delayed notification or not, the violation was good news to Erik Michelsen, director of the South River Federation, a local environmental group.

While he's not pleased to hear of the county's violations, he was glad to see federal officials finally enforcing the laws.

"I hope it represents a new day with regard to EPA stepping up the seriousness of these permits," he said.

Chris Trumbauer, the riverkeeper for the West and Rhode rivers, wondered why it was the federal government finding the violation, not the state government. The feds give authority on issuing and enforcing these kinds of permits to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Permits are worthless without enforcement, he said.

"It's not much good if no one's going to abide by it," he said.

Jay Apperson, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment, said his agency had no objection to EPA enforcing the permit. He said MDE was aware of the investigation, and "we concur with the approach."

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COUNTY POLLUTION VIOLATIONS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited county government for violating its 'municipal separate storm sewer system' discharge permit.

Violations were found at three county-owned sites, including:

The Central District roads yard, 1847 Crownsville Road, Annapolis.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan 'did not contain documentation of past inspections, employee training, and monitoring.'
• Debris and sediment had collected in a trench drain.
• Trees were growing inside a stormwater management pond and sediment built up in a gravel inlet to the pond.

The Central District roads yard, 1427 Duckens St., Odenton.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan 'did not contain documentation of past inspections, employee training, and monitoring.'
• There were uncovered stockpiles near storm drains.
• A drainage valve was open on a 'secondary containment' surrounding a calcium chloride tank.
• Trash and debris accumulated in a 'dewatering gravel pit.'

The Millersville Landfill, 389 Burns Crossing Road, Severn.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan 'did not contain a certifying signature and employee training records.'

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RE: Curt - 2009-11-18 06:59:38

Congratulations for throwing the first stone that will divert comments from the 'heart' of the story. Way to be divisive! While your comment may have some truth, it holds more personal venom against those groups than at the potential environmental polluters!

Shaking my head ruefully...

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JJ Thomas - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

Local Goverment Failure - 2009-11-15 06:51:18

Another classic example of our tax paid civil servants not performing there job title. Who is going to be held responsible?
Pure neglect or incompidence is involved here.We wonder why the Bay is still in decline.

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C Layman - lothian, MD - Karma: Neutral

terminate - 2009-11-14 18:42:25

Whomever is responsible for this at the State end of things must be terminated or forced into retirement. The State must show it takes this polluting thing seriously.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

wheres the MDE again? - 2009-11-14 16:38:19

Classic MDE inaction.
the mde,river keepers,severn river assoc,magathy river assoc. etc..are so concerned with private individual property owners that they ignore the major violators as mentioned in the above story. the reason they do this is because the private homeowner in most cases does not have the time or money to play their legal games. this is another glaring example that these local environmental groups headed mosty by water front owners who already have their piers/pools/yachts are hiding behind the cover of being "environmentalist" when in deed what they really are, are controlling freaks who dont want any else to have what they already have. MDE...what is your reason for exsiting? This is the worst run agency in the state..getting involved for years in minor issues brought up by the environmentalist lobbies(SRA,MRA,etc..) to attack private homeowners trying to build fences,piers,etc..and they continue to ignore the major pollutors like govt and business intrest. this is why no one trust the mde or any of these environmental groups anymore. please stop harrasing the private homeowner and go after the REAL killers of our precious bay.

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curt fisher - crownsville, MD - Karma: Good

That's Right Mainiac Mike... - 2009-11-14 13:59:04

...the Federal government is real good at doing its job - like securing borders, curbing fraud and abuse in Medicare, how long is the list?

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Nathan Durhing - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

AS I SEE IT - 2009-11-14 10:51:00

by Mainer Mike Brown

That's all we need is a government that isn't doing it's part regarding polution.

So many just think the environment isn't important, and that those who do care are just being difficult.

Frusterating.

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mike brown - hiram, me - Karma: Terrible