Maryland State Delegates want ‘strong accountability’ when Ohio wastewater arrives in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Two Maryland State delegates from Baltimore County mentioned in a joint letter Tuesday that they’re asking for “sturdy accountability” relating to 67,000 gallons of pretreated wastewater that might be headed from East Palestine, Ohio, to Baltimore for therapy.

Republicans Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki are asking that “sturdy accountability measures” be applied when the wastewater arrives in Baltimore, “together with assurances that the waste is contained and won’t be leaked into the general public sanitary sewer system.” 

As soon as the pretreated wastewater has arrived in Baltimore, a waste administration firm will deal with water contaminated by a prepare derailment in Ohio. Afterward, the waste will then be transported again to Ohio, in line with the Maryland Division of the Atmosphere. 

Baltimore’s lawmakers discovered in March that no less than 675,000 gallons of pretreated wastewater from East Palestine could be despatched to the Again River Wastewater Therapy Plant—a city-run facility based mostly in Dundalk that has been below non permanent state management on account of compliance and allow points. 

However after widespread concern in regards to the facility’s skill to successfully deal with the water and the potential environmental impression, Mayor Brandon Scott directed the Division of Public Works to disclaim Clear Harbor’s request to discharge the wastewater.

Lately, although, the MDE mentioned Norfolk Southern Railway Firm notified the company it intends to ship waste to the Clear Harbors Baltimore Facility for therapy below a distinct plan. 

Following therapy, the wastewater might be shipped again to Clear Harbors Cleveland, Ohio, as an alternative of being discharged in Baltimore, in line with the company.

The Maryland State delegates are directing consideration to the lack of know-how made accessible to officers in Baltimore County.

They famous in a joint letter that “Baltimore County Councilmember mentioned they haven’t been briefed on the plan and have additionally expressed concern about this resolution,”

“Now we have the suitable to be involved, ” Nawrocki mentioned. “Baltimore will not be geared up to deal with this therapy, particularly when the Again River Plant has failed inspection a number of instances.”

The 2 delegates mentioned of their letter that they have been informed that the Dundalk group reported seeing “black excrement” floating round within the river final 12 months because of failures on the Again River Wastewater Therapy Plant.

“The waste is coming to the notorious Again River Wastewater Therapy Plant that had a 2-alarm fireplace simply final month,” Szeliga mentioned. “This plant has seen frequent sewer overflows into the river, which ultimately makes its strategy to our most valuable pure useful resource—the Chesapeake Bay.”