The Alleged Bypass Incident
You will need Adobe Acrobat to read the documents - go here to get a copy
The audio and video recordings can be played in Windows Media Player - go here to get that.
NEW MDE Inspection Report 5/3/2005 - "At 11:45 a small amount of Sewer Tracing Dye (PlantPro) was mixed in the final contact chamber. The sheer gate valve was open and MDE personnel observed flow discharging form [sic] the effluent discharge pipe only."
NEW Internal MDE Memo 4/22/2004 describing bypasses and overflows from the Centreville WWTP.
NEW E-mail conversation between MDE and CRA 4/21/2004 concerning elevated ammonia measurements in the Corsica River.
NEW Internal MDE e-mail 4/19/2004 describing a suspicious flapper valve in the chlorine contact chamber. (See also the 5/3/2005 inspection memo below).
NEW Letter from MDE to Tammy Stafford (Record-Observer) 8/10/2004 rejecting her request for documents under the Public Information Act.
NEW A Generic Letter from MDE 8/10/2004 rejecting a request for documents under the Public Information Act.
EPA reply to Sen. Mikulski's letter - "At the request of MDE, EPA is performing an evaluation of the state's inspection program. ... Moreover, EPA will be conducting a thorough evaluation of all MDE compliance and enforcement programs in the fall of this year."
Sen. Mikulski's 6/4/2004 letter to the EPA - "I am deeply troubled by recent news reports that a sewage treatment plant in Maryland consistently violated its discharge permit, and that the violations were reported to EPA for several months, possibly years, but that EPA did nothing about it."
Sen. Mikulski's 4/19/2004 letter to the EPA - "Recently, the media reported that a sewage treatment plant located in the town of Centreville, Maryland discharged raw sewage into a tributary of the Chester River in clear violation of the plant's operating permit."
WBAL-TV Stories:
 | May 20, 2004: Queen Anne's Commissioners Want Wastewater Answers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 14, 2004: EXCLUSIVE: More Wastewater Plant Problems Found | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 7, 2004: Ehrlich
Questioned on Centreville Wastewater Problems
| May 4, 2004: State
Stops Construction Over Wastewater Concerns
| April 29, 2004: County
Bars Swimming After Wastewater Problems
| April 27, 2004: Moratorium
On Centreville Building Permits Considered
| April 16, 2004: Centreville
Fires Town Attorney Over Wastewater Problems
| April 15, 2004: Just
How Tainted Is Centreville's Water?
| April 14, 2004: Some
Blame Council President For Wastewater Problems
| April 14, 2004: Centreville
Fires Town Manager Over Wastewater Problems
| April 9, 2004: State's
Wastewater Treatment Plants Polluting Waterways
| April 9, 2004: State
Ordered Wastewater Plant To Fix Problems 2 Years Ago
| April 8, 2004: Environmentalists,
Lawmakers React To Wastewater Plant Report
| April 8, 2004: Wastewater
Plant Allegedly Pumping Sewage Into Chesapeake Bay | |
Photos and Videos from April 2004. Includes the famous Sveinn Storm home videos of an alleged flow meter bypass.
Documents concerning Bob Griffith's Termination of Employment:
MDE Letter informing Bob Griffith the he passed the Level 5 WWTP operator test
COMAR 26.06.01.04 - Requirements of Operators
COMAR 26.06.01.16 - Tables referenced above
Bob Griffith's Complaint Letter to the Town Council - "I am no longer able to risk my professional license, family's future and my very freedom by not reporting the following conditions:"
Bob Griffith's Termination Letter - "These upgrades require that our system operators have a class five license for wastewater ..."
1999 EPA Region 3 Report - see the third page: "Centreville was struggling with a variety of problems. Historically, staffing was inadequate, and there was a long history of deferred or inadequately performed maintenance, which had taken a steep toll at the facility. Serious equipment problems and structural concerns left the plant vulnerable to discharge permit violations and expensive fines for non-compliance. In addition, Centreville’s operators were required to “work around” a variety of design deficiencies. ... Sludge management was a major challenge."