BALTIMORE (March 07, 2010) – The Maryland Department of the Environment recently announced 2 enforcement actions against businesses located in southern Maryland seeking penalties totaling $140,000 for alleged violations of MDE requirements for air and radiation management.
AIR POLLUTION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS: MDE’s Air and Radiation Management Administration carries out mandates from the Federal Clean Air Act as well as Maryland’s air pollution control laws and administers air pollution monitoring, planning, and control programs to improve and maintain air quality. The Department also administers a radiation control program in conformance with federal and state law.
Mirant – Morgantown, Charles County: On February 9, 2010, MDE issued a demand letter in the amount of $134,000 in stipulated penalties to Mirant to resolve alleged violations of air quality regulations. A Consent Decree, effective March 6, 2008, requires Mirant to pay stipulated penalties for opacity exceedances occurring in the third quarter, 2009, at their coal-fired power plants. A review of the third quarter opacity data from the affected facilities found 134 days of alleged violations. The Consent Decree requires payment of $1,000 for each day of violation. The demand letter is requesting the penalty.
RADIATION MACHINES DIVISION: The following action is in response to violations of Maryland regulations for the control of ionizing radiation from radiation (x-ray) machines.
Greater Maryland Dental Partners, P.A. – Waldorf, Charles County: On February 9, 2010, MDE issued a Complaint and Administrative Penalty for $6,000 for alleged violations.