Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is continuing our advocacy to oppose the lease renewal for the Days Cove Rubble Landfill. To support our effort in protecting parkland, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, water quality, sensitive species, and community interests, it is time once again to submit public comments before the upcoming Board of Public Works meeting.
Use this link to the BPW Public Comment Form submit your comment opposing the lease renewal and reference our model submission below for examples of language and reasons for opposing. Please submit a comment in opposition no later than Monday May 4th 2026 at 3:00pm.
Thanks to the Maryland Department of the Environment, Department of Natural Resources, and Board of Public Works for continuing to listen to our community’s concerns over the Days Cove Rubble Landfill Lease Renewal. At this time, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® OPPOSES the Maryland Board of Public Works Department of General Services Agenda item 46-LL. Our opposition stems from the length of the lease, a lack of language detailing state control of the escrow account, and a lack of Special Environmental Plan for the Irreplaceable Natural Area of Days Cove located within the Critical Area of the Chesapeake Bay. We urge the Board to reconsider the environmental monitoring necessary to protect the waterways being discharged into, formalize the escrow language, shorten the length of the lease to transition the area for public use, and to increase the external oversight of the discharge in order to prevent potential harm to aquatic life and riverine recreation and livelihoods.
See below for more background on the landfill and the debate over its discharge and continued operation within the Critical Area.
Last fall, resolutions by Baltimore and Harford County Councils asked the Maryland Department of the Environment to oppose the Discharge permit renewal or require a no discharge alternative for Days cove landfill’s treated leachate discharge.
Back in December, the Board of Public Works received over 220 comments in opposition to the Department of Natural Resources renewing the Days Cove Lease for a period 8 years (5 years with a 3 year period to reclaim the site for conversion to Parkland).
As a result of these efforts, a shorter (5 month) lease was approved so area nonprofits and community leaders could seek more information from DNR and the facility about site conditions and a quicker path towards closure.
While meetings have been held concerning the 40-year-old landfill sited within Gunpowder State Park and adjacent to an established Irreplaceable Natural Area and operations within the Critical Area of the Chesapeake Bay that have not been reassessed since 2004.
Unfortunately, substantive information that would have informed the group’s knowledge and understanding of facility operations and compliance in the 1st quarter of 2026 and the recommendations by the Maryland Environmental Service to the Department of Natural resources were withheld.
Our meetings consistently centered on key priorities including the state stewardship of the escrow account, the lease length, Maryland Critical Area Concerns, the potential for a consent decree as an enforcement mechanism, and a special environmental project that would direct fines and penalties to the area of impact based on alleged violations at the site, the MDE permit renewal, and the Maryland Environmental Service’s analysis of facility.
It’s also important to note that while the MDE discharge permit was issued on April 14, 2026 the permit is still subject to appeal as any of the 700 commenters that took part in the proceeding may file a Petition for a Judicial Review until May 28, 2026.
As we have not received the documents requested in time for review, as such, we are unable to support the Board of Public works agenda item as currently written for the Tuesday, May 5th Maryland Board of Public Works meeting; Agenda: Department of General Services; Agenda Item: 46-LL.
Submit a comment in opposition. Written comments must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. Monday, May 4th. Maryland Board of Public Works; Agenda: Department of General Services; Agenda Item: 46-LL.
The form is reproduced below.
1. Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
2. Your First Name:
3. Your Last Name:
4. Your Phone Number (Optional):
5. Your Email Address:
6. Organization: Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER®
7. Agenda Category: Department of General Services
8. Agenda Item: 46-LL
9. Position: OPPOSE
10. Comment (4000 Characters max including spaces): Use our comment as a model and tailor your response to make it unique.
11. Sign me up to receive updates from BPW (Optional):
12. Acknowledgement: Agree to add your comment to the public record.