Yesterday, Ben Grumbles, who was criticized for failing to address the pollution problems at Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant in Maryland, announced his resignation from his position as Maryland’s secretary for the environment.
Robin L. Grammer Jr. (R,Middle River) said that he was glad there is accountability. He had previously called on Gov. Larry Hogan must remove Grumbles.
Following reports of massive discharges of semitreated sewage from a Baltimore City-operated plant into Back River in March, the legislators requested that they be granted permission.
Grammer told T that Maryland Department of the Environment is likely to return to the straight-and-streak state it has been in the past few years.He BrewGrumbles had admitted to being aware of high levels in bacteria at the facility going back to 2019.
Fairfield’s Patapsco treatment plant at Asiatic Avenue in Fairfield has been affected by a similar degradation of water quality standards. Exposed last summerBlue Water Baltimore
MDEs create their own inspection reports Please see the detailsBack River’s broken equipment and treatment tanks clogged by vegetation and floating solids, which Grumbles acknowledged had rendered the facility vulnerable to attack. Unexpected failure.
Vegetation seen at Back River in a biological reactor during a state inspection on March 22, 2022. BELOW: Orange-brown gunk suspended from the effluent of the plants outflow pipe into Back River. (MDE, Mark Reutter).
Grumbles Replaced by Deputy
Hogan announced that Horacio tablada, the agency’s deputy secretary under Grumbles will be the agency’s new head and Suzanne Dorsey will take over as assistant secretary.
Grammer stated that Tabladas top priorities will be dealing With Back River, the largest treatment facility in the country, which was brought under state control via the quasi-public Maryland Environmental Service.
The new management will be responsible for developing a compliance program for the facility. They are expected to issue bi-weekly progress updates starting in June 6.
It is imperative to improve community relations. Grammer stated that Grammer believes the agency cannot maintain a distance between environmental groups and those living near the plant.
Hogan stated in a press release that Grumbles would be leaving the Environmental Council of the States on June 1, to become the executive director.
Hogan stated that Grumbles leadership has made great strides in achieving our Chesapeake Bay restoration goal, reduced childhood lead poisoning, and implemented one the most aggressive and balanced climate programs nationwide.
Dramatic nosedive
Harry E. Hunsicker III was a top aide. ResignAs chief of water pollution compliance for March
Hunsicker resigned shortly after five environmental organizations published a joint report stating that water pollution enforcement had taken a significant step. Dramatic nosediveUnder the Hogan administration.
The report showed that MDE had identified 70% fewer violations of pollution violations during Martin OMalley’s governorship, took 67% fewer enforcement action, inspected 30% fewer sites, and collected 47% less in monetary penalties.
From the Chesapeake Accountability Project Report.
Grumbles’ regulatory approach was criticized in the report. Non-compliant holders of state water permits could submit material stating that corrective actions had been taken without any verification. MDEs increased dependence on local jurisdictions for enforcement of environmental cleanup laws added to the problems.
Grumbles claimed that the agency was plagued by a large amount of retirements, and unfilled positions, including the drinking water safety office.
Responding to a federal investigation DocumentationThe shortage of water inspectors in Maryland led to Brian Frosh, Maryland Attorney General, calling on Grumbles & Hogan last December for help to solve the problem and prevent public health crises such as the one we witnessed in Flint, Michigan.
Recent BrewStories about MDE and Back River:
Baltimore’s poor management was the root cause of newly discovered sewage flows into the Bay (9/1/21)
This is what the wastewater smells and looks at the Back River sewage treatment plant. (4/19/22).
A COMPLETE INDEX BrewCoverage for Back River sewage and DPW is provided Here.
