Following a sewage crisis in Southern Maryland and concerns about the state’s drinking water system, Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles was quizzed by legislators.
Grumbles stated to the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, “Our work always recognizes and enforces the importance of proactive regulation and enforcement.” We have been keeping track for penalties and referrals over the past few years. We know this is an area where we need more.
Brian Frosh, the State Attorney General (D), presented to the committee a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report that found understaffing in the MDEs water supply program. This program oversees the state’s drinking water systems. Frosh stated that the report found that MDE needed 187% more full-time workers and 93% more funding in order to provide safe drinking water for the public.
Frosh stated that MDEs drinking water program has nearly 40% vacant positions. However, there are 71 full-time jobs available. Frosh stated that while there were 62 employees full-time in 2011, the number has dropped to 44 employees with 350 more public water systems.
The Maryland inspector has four-times more drinking water licensees than the average inspector from other states. This includes visiting water treatment plants and examining water quality results. Frosh stated. According to the EPA, MDEs should have a total number of 126 employees and $15.7million more each year.
This is the most crucial function the State Department of the Environment can perform. Frosh stated that approximately five and a half million of us rely on clean drinking water to maintain our health.
Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Howard), called MDEs poor oversight over the state’s drinking water supply a public embarrassment. He said that the MDE is a public agency for health, just as EPA.
Grumbles cited workforce shortages and early retirements during the coronavirus epidemic. Grumbles claimed that MDE has filled only 68 of their goal of 102 inspectors. Jay Apperson, MDE spokesperson said that 12 new employees have been hired and that one employee was transferred into the program since July 2021.
An environmental watchdog group was established in October.The majority of poultry farms failed to pass their state inspections, but they were rarely penalized.According to the report, MDE imposed only eight fines on 78 facilities for repeated violations and collected fines only from four poultry farms.
Apperson reports that there are only three inspectors who inspect concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Maryland has 553 allowed animal feeding operations.
Eric Schaeffer is the executive director of Environmental Integrity Project. Schaeffer stated that the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in Eastern Shore rivers has been well above the benchmarks for clean water since 2003.
He continued, “If these programs were working as expected, we should be seeing it showing up in monitoring results.” He pointed out a loophole in poultry farm regulations which allows farmers to ship litter off their land to be spread by other farmers, without disclosing how much litter was used.
Grumbles stated that most violations by poultry farmers were due to paperwork. Grumbles stated that he was committed to ensuring that MDE conducts 50% more poultry farm inspections, or 250 inspections in total this year. This is possible through remote, off-site video inspections. These will supplement on-site reviews. Apperson reports that MDE will also hire additional inspectors to inspect concentrated animal feeding operations.
Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D.Montgomery), stated that video inspections are a bit scary because it is so easy to fake compliance. Grumbles stated that video inspections won’t replace on-site inspections, but will only enhance them.
Two dozen people became ill last fall after consuming contaminated oysters. However, MDE took two weeks before issuing an emergency order to ban the harvesting of shellfish in St. George Creek.
Sen. Paul Pinsky (D. Prince Georges) asked Grumbles about why MDE didn’t act faster after the local health department notified department of the sewage leak near oyster harvesting areas. Grumbles replied, “I accept responsibility for a failure in communication.”
Grumbles stated that MDEs inspectors knew of the sewage leak but did not communicate it to the Shellfish Sanitation Program of MDE. It can lead to illness and even a black eye for an industry. Grumbles said that it was a painful lesson that we learned and that we will make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Pinsky replied, thanking you for acknowledging that this is the first time I have ever heard someone address a problem responsibly.
MDE inspections discovered a string of pollution violations at a Dorchester County plant that was responsible for the breakdown of chicken carcasses into pet food. The plant had also released untreated waste into a stream. The discharge permit for the plant had expired in 2006. This raises questions about whether other plants in the state may have zombie permits.
Grumbles stated that the state has a backlog in zombie permits and has a plan for clearing it. Pinsky also asked Grumbles whether he had contacted Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R), asked Grumbles if he had reached out to Gov. to request additional funding to hire more inspectors to reduce backlog. Grumbles replied that he would need to check with his staff. Pinsky requested a copy MDEs request if it was available.
Grumbles stated that one of his top priorities is to addressTwo wastewater treatment plants are located in Baltimore. Blue Water Baltimore first detected that millions of gallons of untreated sewage were being released into the Bay.
However, Sen. Mary Washington (D. Baltimore City) forced Grumbles to talk about other permits that MDE plans on looking into, outside the city.
To continue to lay out Baltimore City, or just one of them [violations]Washington stated that there are hundreds upon hundreds of cases that affect all Marylanders.
