Thanks to Timothy Wheeler and The Bay Journal for the October 2nd article “Maryland fines developer for more Gunpowder tributary pollution” in which he covers the fines and penalties the Ridgely’s Reserve homebuilders have continued to accrue from Maryland Department of the Environment and Harford County in the months following the three party consent decree between MDE, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® and the developers.
Wheeler references Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER®’s Theaux Le Gardeur, who said,
he and [Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER®]’s lawyer want to meet with MDE officials to understand their rationale for not imposing more penalties.
Wheeler also highlights that,
Le Gardeur contended that the settlement does not preclude Harford from levying its own fines and penalties. While penalties assessed by the state go into a statewide clean water fund, he suggested that any fines the county collects could help pay for closer monitoring of the development and for restoring Foster Branch and the impacted habitat of the lower Gunpowder.
Regarding the downstream effects of these continued violations, Wheeler quotes Theaux Le Gardeur who said,
“I am concerned about the cumulative impacts on the environment and community of the site being out of compliance for over 4 1/2 years.”
For the latest information and to provide input on the Community Driven Restoration Projects funded by the $2.1 million Ridgely’s settlement, please attend in person or tune-in to the October 7th Community Input Session with Chesapeake Bay Trust. Our blogpost has all the details (Registration is required).
We would not be able to advocate for community interests, or protect drinking water and sensitive species without the dedication of our members and volunteers. Please support our work with a donation of your time or money, or send us an email to discuss donations in-kind or how you could help us expand our monitoring programs on the Bird, Bush and Middle Rivers.