Here's a long list of Naughty Businesses of the Week: in August, the Maryland Department of the Environment announced more than $1.6 million in penalties for 25 water, land, air and radiation violations.
WATER POLLUTION
Construction violations: people are supposed to get a permit from MDE before starting to construct anything in state wetlands and waterways.
Erik and Kimberly Roese – Baltimore County: On June 8, 2010, Erik and Kimberly Roese paid $4,200 to the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund to resolve alleged violations of tidal wetlands laws regarding unauthorized construction of a pier in excess of six feet in width and a pier platform in excess of 200 square feet in Middle River. Corrective actions have been taken to address the alleged violations. The site had achieved compliance with the Tidal Wetlands Act prior to the imposition of the penalty.
Jeffrey and Linda Baker – Calvert County: On June 7, 2010, Jeffrey and Linda Baker paid $1,000 to the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund for the alleged violations of constructing a pier extension landward from the “L” head platform and constructing a platform in the first 50 percent of the pier and adjacent to the bulkhead without an approved tidal wetlands license in accordance with the Tidal Wetlands Act in Lusby. Corrective actions have been taken to address the alleged violations.
Jerome Brewis, Lori D. Brewis, Kelly D. Lockner – Anne Arundel County: On June 29, 2010, MDE finalized a Settlement Agreement jointly with Anne Arundel County to resolve alleged violations at properties owned by the parties Jerome G. Brewis, Kelly D. Lockner, and Lori D. Brewis. The Settlement Agreement requires corrective actions to reduce the size of pier structures to be completed by October 31, 2010, and to pay $5,000 to the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund upon completion of the required corrections.
Erosion control: erosion and sediment control plans are required before digging or clearing more than 5,000 square feet of land, because it's against state law to allow soil to wash into Maryland waterways.
Bumpy Oak Corporation – St. Mary’s County: On June 23, 2010, Bumpy Oak Corporation paid $6,600 to the Sediment Control Fund to resolve alleged sediment control violations at the Forest Knolls Two Subdivision in Mechanicsville. Corrective actions have been taken to address the alleged violations.
M. E. Mohler Company – Charles County: On July 13, 2010, MDE issued a Site Complaint and Stop Work Order to M.E. Mohler Company for the failure to implement and maintain an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan at the St. Mary’s Villas residential development site in LaPlata. The Site Complaint and Stop Work Order requires the company to cease and desist all work at the site and to immediately implement and maintain an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.
Churchill Development Corporation-Palmer Washington Overlook – Fort Washington, Prince George’s County: On July 19, 2010, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty against Churchill Development Corporation seeking a penalty of $120,000 for alleged sediment control and pollution violations at the Palmer Washington Overlook construction site. The alleged violations consisted of sediment pollution to a tributary of Henson Creek and failing to properly maintain erosion and sediment control devices, resulting in the discharge of sediment to waters of the State.
Discharge violations: you can't release spollutant into waters of the State without following the terms and conditions of a discharge permit.
BSJ Partners – Dorchester County: On June 18, 2010, the Department filed a Complaint for Injunctive Relief and Civil Penalty in the Circuit Court for Dorchester County against BSJ Partners, LLC, regarding alleged water pollution violations at the Clearview at Horn’s Point, formerly known as Cambridge Country Club, at 5650 Horns Point Road in Cambridge. The Complaint alleges unlawful discharges of sewage from the Country Club’s on-site septic system to the Choptank River, and alleges failure to submit discharge monitoring reports as required by its discharge permit for swimming pools. The action seeks an injunction requiring the defendant to cease unauthorized discharges and establish regular pumping of untreated sewage from the facility as well as a civil penalty of $790,000.
James M. Dugan and Jennifer Rizzo – Charles County: On June 22, 2010, the Department filed a Complaint for Injunctive Relief and Civil Penalty in the Circuit Court for Charles County against James Dugan and Jennifer Rizzo, owners of the Marshall Hall Mobile Home Park at 6454 Oreta Lane in Charles County. The Complaint alleges unlawful discharges of sewage from the park’s subsurface wastewater disposal system to waters of the State. The action seeks an injunction requiring defendants to cease unlawful discharges, to repair the failed system, and to establish regular pumping of sewage from the system as well as civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each day of unlawful discharges but not less than $100,000 total.
Laurel Sand & Gravel – Prince George’s County – On July 27, 2010, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint and Penalty against Laurel Sand & Gravel, Inc., and 1325 G Street Associates, respectively, for alleged past violations of sediment control, sediment pollution, and water pollution control laws at the sand and gravel mining operation formerly known as the Magruder surface mine. The mining site, located at Van Dusen Road and Interstate 95 in Laurel, is currently being prepared for transformation into Konterra, a mixed-use development located adjacent to the Inter-County Connector. The action seeks a total penalty of $170,000 for alleged violations.
LAND POLLUTION
Lead Cases The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:
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