Yes, we must.
When Talbot County’s authority to oversee the town of Trappe’s plans for wastewater management was questioned recently, Councilwoman Laura Price responded, “Yes, we can.”
Maryland Department of the Environment’s role is becoming clearer, too. MDE enforces state and federal environmental laws and has both regulatory authority and the option of offering guidance, but county governments are responsible for the oversight of all basic services.
Concerning environmental matters, Section 9-505 of the Environmental Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland states, “Each county shall designate an appropriate agency of the county to be responsible for creating a working plan.” Counties are responsible for “overseeing the planning, financing, construction, and operation of sewerage systems,” and “shall involve the public in these matters.”
And Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services has confirmed the County’s role: “Counties are the primary unit of local government, responsible for most basic services such as police, fire, local corrections, sanitation, local highways, parks, and recreation.”
We may not have been aware of all of this during our “preserve the rural character of Talbot County” years, but a development of unprecedented size for Talbot County and our Eastern Shore has focused more attention on these matters. And Resolution 281 put the town of Trappe and Lakeside’s developer in charge of a development that would more than triple the population of the town.
Councilwoman Laura Price has responded to concerns by proposing a requirement for Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) for our Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan and introducing Resolution 310.
Resolution 310 would limit the number of homes initially connected to Trappe’s underperforming wastewater treatment plant to an unspecified number of fewer than 120 for a period of no more than 18 months. It also requires Trappe’s wastewater treatment plant to be in compliance with its permit and any other requirements that might apply.
The ENR upgrade to our Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan is welcomed, but impacts only future permits. Trappe’s 20-year-old WWTP is polluting La Trappe Creek at its current level of service, but we have been reassured that Lakeside will take over, once its plant is completed.
This plan would avoid further delay, but avoiding 18 months of additional pollution might also be a priority We have also been advised that, due in large part to weather and seasonal concerns, wastewater treatment is likely to remain a joint effort; and the town of Trappe becomes responsible for all wastewater treatment costs and facilities once Lakeside’s plant is completed.
Our Planning Commission and Department of Public Works have indicated a preference for additional oversight. Our County Council is waiting for a decision on Lakeside’s wastewater treatment permit. MDE is focused upon issuing and enforcing permits, but has reminded us that the site for Lakeside’s spray wastewater field alongside Miles Creek was chosen by local officials.
Resolution 308 also awaits consideration. It rescinds Resolution 281 in order to provide our County with the opportunity to provide additional oversight for the planning, construction, and operation of Lakeside in a sequence and manner that would not only spare La Trappe Creek further degradation, it would provide a welcomed opportunity for compliance with our Comprehensive Plan’s directive to “protect the health, safety and well-being of its citizens in a resilient community.”
Leslie Steen says
Thank you for this excellent, clear explanation.
It is clear that the County must step up and take the responsibility for fixing this current problem and assuring that we do not have a future problem. If the County wants to grow it population, it needs to grow its capacity in managing our fundamental services.
Reed Fawell 3 says
In furtherance of this above letter to editor, please also read Len N. Foxwell’s letter to editor published this Sunday (Nov. 21) in Star Democrat. Truer words on this subject has not been written down and published.