BALTIMORE (April 27, 2011)– The Maryland Department of the Environment announced two recent major enforcement actions for alleged violations of MDE requirements for wetlands in southern Maryland.
CHICK-FIL-A, INC. AND W.H. BASS, INC., LA PLATA, CHARLES COUNTY: On March 3, 2011, Chick-Fil-A, Inc. and W.H. Bass, Inc. agreed to pay $21,500 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund in settlement of alleged violations of Environment Article, Titles 4 and 9, that occurred at the Chick-Fil-A construction site at the La Plata Village Center Phase IV, 6030 Crain Highway, La Plata.
STEVEN J. NICHOLSON, ST. MARY’S COUNTY: On February 28, 2011, MDE executed a Settlement Agreement and Promissory and Confessed Judgment Note to resolve alleged violations that involved earthen filling and grading activity within the buffer to nontidal wetlands without first obtaining an authorization from MDE or an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, placing sediment in a position likely to pollute an unnamed tributary of the Patuxent River in Hollywood. Mr. Nicholson has corrected the alleged violations. The Settlement Agreement requires that a $1,714 penalty be paid to the Clean Water Fund and a $386 penalty be paid to the Nontidal Wetlands Compensation Fund.