April 2019 Volume 29 Number 2 Coal ash contaminated groundwater at almost all monitored sites ≈ Sites found in MD, PA and VA; one in the Patuxent watershed was among the 10 worst in the nation. BY WHITNEY PIPKIN Just after Virginia legislators voted to end the storage of coal ash in pits where it could leach into groundwater and rivers, a report released in March revealed widespread coal-ash contami- nation in 39 states — and at more than 91 percent of the power plants moni- tored. They include sites in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The report by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project relies on monitoring data from coal-fired power plants that an Obama era Construction crews restore Chinquapin Run in Baltimore city, moving sewer line out of a channel and stabilizing banks. regulation required them to release Trees planted along stream by volunteers were taken out, but officials say the reductions in erosion and sewage leaks for the first time in 2018. Of the 265 outweigh the loss. (Dave Harp) power plants that were impacted by the requirement, the report found that groundwater near 242 of them contained “unsafe levels” of one or Localities challenged to meet stormwater reductions more pollutants from coal ash. It also Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties localities could claim greatly increased cited a coal ash landfill in Maryland’s ≈ Critics question effectiveness said they’ve managed to avoid a similar pollution reduction credits for stream Patuxent River watershed as one of the of some methods, say MD has fate. But they only did so with help restoration projects — far beyond what 10 worst coal ash contamination cases let some places off easy. from the Maryland Department of the a number of experts think is warranted. in the country. BY TIMOTHY B. WHEELER Environment, which approved ways of State officials say they did those The snapshot of the industry Stormwater pollution is proving to complying with its mandates that critics things to provide flexibility in meeting “confirms that virtually all coal [ash be one tough nut to crack in restoring find questionable. the ambitious stormwater reduction sites] are polluting our groundwater,” the Chesapeake Bay. To understand how Baltimore city, for instance, did it target they set because the effort was said Abel Russ, senior attorney with tough, just look at how Maryland’s larg- mainly by sweeping its streets — an costly and difficult and each locality the EIP and lead author of the report. est city and the state’s biggest suburbs approach that experts say is, at best, seemed to have different challenges Coal ash, the byproduct of burn- have struggled with it. only modestly effective at curbing the meeting it. ing coal for power, can contain toxic A year ago, despite having spent nutrient pollution that plagues the Bay. “Each county is finding practices that chemicals and heavy metals such as more than $100 million on a slew of Anne Arundel County, meanwhile, work best in their landscape and environ- arsenic, lead and mercury. Environ- projects, Montgomery County failed to took advantage of a new state program ment,” said Lee Currey, director of the mental lawyers and researchers have meet state requirements for reducing that permits pollution “trading.” This MDE Water and Science Administration. been trying to prove how easily these polluted runoff from its streets, parking let the county offset its big shortfall in But environmentalists and even contaminants can leach from unlined lots and rooftops. In a consent agree- reducing stormwater runoff by taking some stream restoration professionals or clay-lined pits into groundwater ment with state regulators, it pledged credit for the better-than-required perfor- contend that the state has let localities and, eventually, enter drinking water to catch up and pay a $300,000 fine mance of its sewage treatment plants. off easy. Under pressure from local offi- and nearby waterways. — or spend a like amount on an extra And Baltimore County benefited cials, they say, regulators permitted and The data used to produce the report stormwater management project. from another helpful state decision. came from groundwater monitoring Officials in the city of Baltimore and The MDE announced late last year that Runoff continues on page 21 Coal Ash continues on page 20 Bay Journal • April 2019 2 Editor’s Note BAY JOURNAL is published by Bay Journal Media to inform the public about ecological, scientific, historic and cultural issues New special issue, new changes & new faces and events related to the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Journal, circulation 35,000, is published monthly except in midsummer It’s been a LNP newspaper in Lancaster, PA, for and midwinter. It is distributed free of charge. Bundles are available hectic start to nearly 37 years, winning more than 20 for distribution. Material may be reproduced, with permission the year here at statewide writing awards. and attribution. Publication is made possible by grants through the Bay Journal. His reporting has ranged from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay We have a lot coverage of the Three Mile Island Program Office, the Campbell Foundation, the National Oceanic of plans for this and Peach Bottom nuclear plants, to and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the year, including efforts to preserve the scenic Lower Sumner T. McKnight Foundation, the Rauch Foundation, the a first-ever Susquehanna Gorge and its river Fair Play Foundation, the Shared Earth Foundation, the Virginia special issue towns, to the challenges of farmers Environmental Endowment, anonymous donors, and by reader that will focus on climate change, seeking to conform to more stringent contributions. Views expressed in the Bay Journal do not and updating our publication and conservation measures on their farms necessarily represent those of any funding agency or organization. website. Fortunately, we have some while trying to eke out a living during help on the way. tough times in the dairy business. For mailing list additions/changes, please use the form on this With this issue we are welcoming For 20 years, Ad has led and written page or contact: Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 two additions to our reporting staff: about backpacking forays to different E-mail: [email protected] ≈ Sarah Vogelsong is an wild spots in Pennsylvania in the heart BAY JOURNAL MEDIA environmental and agricultural of winter. He is a graduate of West reporter based in Richmond with a Virginia University and tries to be a Bay Journal Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with background in local news. She’s worked good steward of land along the Lost a mission to further public education and awareness of issues as a general assignment reporter for River in the Mountain State, where he affecting the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic environment the Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA) owns a cabin. by creating and distributing journalistic products. In addition and the Caroline Progress (Caroline He lives with his wife and two to producing the Bay Journal, Bay Journal Media operates the County, VA). college-bound twin daughters along Bay Journal News Service, which distributes Bay Journal Her reporting has covered envi- the Conestoga River in Lancaster, articles and original op-eds about the Chesapeake Bay or regional ronmental justice, an award-winning within view of an eagle’s nest. environmental issues to more than 400 newspapers in the region, series about the revitalization of the Sarah, whose freelance work had reaching several million readers each month. city of Hopewell, as well as an award- already appeared in the Bay Journal, winning series about the environmen- joined our staff with this issue, and Karl Blankenship, Executive Director tal impacts of a sand and gravel mining Ad’s work will begin appearing in the Andrew Nolan, CPA, Chief Financial Officer proposal in Caroline County. next edition. STAFF Sarah has also written for numerous Meanwhile, we are saying farewell regional publications. She came to to Donna Morelli, who had been Editor: Karl Blankenship ([email protected]) journalism via academic editing, working with us for nearly two Managing Editor: Lara Lutz ([email protected]) working on textbooks and nonfiction years, helping with our Pennsylvania CONTACT US Associate Editor/Projects: Timothy B. Wheeler ([email protected]) books for companies including Oxford coverage and our Local Government by mail: Bay Journal News Service Editor: Tim Sayles ([email protected]) UP, Princeton UP, Palgrave Macmillan, Edition. Donna is planning to relocate The Bay Journal Copy/Design Editor: Kathleen A. Gaskell ([email protected]) and others. She is a graduate of the to her native New York (where her 619 Oakwood Drive Staff Writer: Jeremy Cox ([email protected]) College of William and Mary. horse has already moved). We wish her Seven Valleys, PA Staff Writer: Ad Crable ([email protected]) ≈ Ad Crable covered the outdoors, the best in the future. 17360-9395 Staff Writer: Whitney Pipkin ([email protected]) environment and agriculture for — Karl Blankenship Staff Writer: Sarah Vogelsong ([email protected]) by phone: Photographer: Dave Harp ([email protected]) 717-428-2819 ADVERTISING Sign Up for the Bay Journal or Change your Address TheBay Journal is distributed FREE by Bay Journal Media, Inc. If you would like to Marketing & Advertising Director: Jacqui Caine ([email protected]) be added to its mailing list or need to change your present address, please fill out this form To inquire about BOARD OF DIRECTORS advertising, contact and mail it to Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222. 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