La Trappe Creek, and the unnamed tributary of same (UTLTC) into which Trappe’s WWTP discharges, is a disgrace. I would not let a stray dog go anywhere near that body of water. It is polluted, eutrophic, infected (what else does one call something full of harmful E. coli, and likely other, bacteria ?) and “impaired” per the Clean Water Act of 1972. It is a public health hazard.
What are the state and county doing about it? Nothing. In fact, they intend to permit more pollution to enter this impaired body of water by increasing the discharge of Trappe’s faulty wastewater plant.
This shameful situation is the result of decades of failure by both the county and state to follow the laws regarding the protection of our rivers.
At present, a majority of the county council voted to allow an increase in pollutants to this impaired body of water. This contravenes the policies set forth in the county’s water and sewer plan, just one of which states that the county is to, “continue to provide qualified management of water resources in order to control and diminish water pollution and to preserve the necessary quality standard of streams, estuaries, wetlands, and groundwater for residential, industrial, commercial, recreational, and conservational use”(emphasis added). Adding an additional load of polluting nutrients to an impaired water body is not consistent with the policies of the water and sewer plan. Of course, one would actually have to read the water and sewer plan to know this.
Some in county government choose to pass the buck to the MDE assuming that they are doing the job of protecting our rivers, and if the MDE says it’s OK then they’re off the hook. This is a demonstrably false assumption.
The MDE has known since at least 1998 that La Trappe Creek is grossly eutrophic. In Dec. 2002 they stated that the primary cause of the impairment of UTLTC is “likely the Trappe WWTP”. In 2003 a TMDL was adopted to clean up the creek. A TMDL is a prescription to fix an impaired water body by diminishing the amount of nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) entering the water. The terms of that EPA approved TMDL state that the MDE was to monitor progress of TMDL’s around the state on a rolling five year schedule. The TMDL states, “This continuing cycle ensures that within five years of establishing a TMDL, intensive follow up monitoring will be performed. Thus, the watershed cycling strategy establishes a TMDL evaluation process that assures accountability (emphases added)”
After nine weeks of bureaucratic ping pong with the recalcitrant MDE, I have now confirmed that the MDE has no data for UTLTC over at least the past five years. They have no idea what the present condition of UTLTC is regarding chlorophyll-a (a measure of algae) and dissolved oxygen, which are the two parameters they are supposed to be monitoring to see if the TMDL is working. By 2017, 60% of the TMDL’s goal was to have been achieved. The MDE didn’t even bother to check. Total success of the TMDL is supposed to be achieved in 2025. “Success” would mean that dissolved oxygen levels would always be above 5 mg./L. (per C.O.M.A.R.), and
chlorophyll-a less than 25 ug/L.
On the present course, this won’t happen. Of course, in order to know any of this someone would actually have to read the TMDL. Under Maryland law, the county council is the board of health for our county. They have
responsibility for the health of Talbot’s citizens. They are failing in this duty.
Under Maryland law, the MDE is tasked with the administration of environmental laws- including the Clean Water Act. The MDE was created in 1987 to, “protect and preserve the state’s air, water, and land resources and safeguard the environmental health of Maryland citizens.” It’s annual budget is about $170 million.
At present, both the county and the MDE intend to allow an increase in nutrients entering an impaired water body with a TMDL in place. This is counter to the Clean Water Act. If a developer wants to build 2,500 homes, make them build a state of the art wastewater plant up front. There is no such thing as a right to pollute.
Resolution 281 must be rescinded.
Thomas Hughes
Easton
Jane Bollman says
Tom Hughes’s letter points out the disgraceful lack of attention to the law and to the health of Talbot County waterways. Bill 281 must be rescinded.
Charles Barranco says
The Talbot County Council and MDE are in denial. Could there be any other explanation.
Could there be an underlying reason why upstanding politicians and state employees would allow creeks, rivers and tributaries to surpass pollution standards agreed to by the State of Maryland. In turn with the EPA.
I am Old School. What is going on. Why is the Town of Trappe genuflecting to Rock? Why is the Talbot County Council and MDE giving Carte Blanche to the developer. There seems to be an aroma here.
Hope everybody participates in the next Talbot County Council meeting.
Jill Poe says
The Talbot County council and the employees of The MDE should all be arrested, charged, procecuted, sentenced, and made to pay for their gross misscariage of justice against the environment which they have been untrusted to protect. Not to mention the citizens of the county and the state residents of now and many years to come.
Mickey Terrone says
Uh, what about the polluters themselves? Do they get awards?
Thomas kicklighter says
Thank you for taking the time and effort to further clarify the current catastrophe facing our residents Town and County
Hugh (Jock) Beebe says
The documentation supplied and skillfully interpreted by Mr. Hughes reveals accumulated harm caused by neglect of responsibilities at local, county and state levels – all of them failing in respective responsibilities. Surely actions to attempt repair of a broken system must occur at the local level.
However, I am sensing a background message conveyed in Hughes’s editorial that suggests existence of a pervasive culture of indifference and tolerance of neglect at the State of Maryland level. The failure of MDE to accomplish its mission enables county level failure to go blameless for past decades.
Where is there any evidence within the Hogan administration that responsibility for MDE failure is recognized as a serious problem and that the buck stops there?
Julie Susman says
I’m baffled by the attitude of “it’s not our problem”, stated or evidenced by lack of action by the Town, the County, and the State. Every citizen who lives, works and/or plays in La Trappe Creek and the other waterways into which this polluted Creek flows is affected by the poison being released into La Trappe, which soon will have at least 120 new homes’ wastewater added to the polluted discharge from the non-compliant wastewater treatment plant. Some of us who live on or near other Creeks or Rivers have been told not to take oysters from our shores and not to go into the water if you have any open cut or sores. These waters are all connected. Every Creek and River is threatened when any one Creek becomes toxic like La Trappe.
I suggest that even though the proposed fix to rescind 281 may not be a perfect solution, it gets to the heart of the matter. Don’t let this wastewater treatment plant continue to operate below the state-required standard and certainly don’t let any more homes be hooked up to it, until it is brought up to the ENR standard. Don’t make this a political issue – it is an issue of the health of our families, the tourism-based economy, and the future of water-based seafood economy. The Council can find a way to fix this – if they care about the citizens they represent.
If the Council Council doesn’t act, who is going to stop the disregard for the health, welfare, and economy of our beautiful mid shore? If our elected and appointed officials disregard their duty, we as citizens must speak up, and act. The ballot box is a good place to start.
Rebecca F. Gaffney says
Having driven by the Lakeside development in Trappe many times in recent months, one would assume that it is indeed “a done deal”…trees down, huge earth-moving equipment, drainage pipes, etc. on obvious display. Let’s hope the thorough research by both Dan Watson and Tom Hughes will persuade not only the MDE but Governor Hogan’s office as well to put a stop to this horrific encroachment upon Talbot County lands and waterways.
W. R. Carter, III says
Excellent statement, Tom. I’m sending the Spy an excerpt–similar in thrust–from my comment to MDE.
Nick Carter