EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Maryland
13 formal actions at 7 of 117 plants · $1.1M in penalties · 10 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 13 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Maryland, 2 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 7 of the state's 117 plants, with $1.1 million in penalties assessed. The most common ground is prevention of accidental release/risk management plans (rmps) (3 cases). EPA has inspected 7 plants in the state, 10 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
- All plants in Maryland
- Maryland NPDES permits
- EPA enforcement nationwide
- Analysis: enforcement since 2020
Recent enforcement actions in Maryland
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Jan 2024 FY2023 | Administrative order | National Drinking Water Regulations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2023-0124 |
EPA's description: “On July 20, 2023, Region III and the City of Baltimore agreed to an Administrative Order on Consent requiring the City to complete work on two of the City's finished water reservoirs, Druid Lake and…” | ||||||
| Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Jul 2023 FY2010 | Administrative order | Nat'l Drinking Water Compliance Schedule - Effective Date | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2010-0123 |
| Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Jul 2023 FY2023 | Administrative order | National Drinking Water Regulations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2023-0109 |
EPA's description: “On July 20, 2023, Region III and the City of Baltimore agreed to an Administrative Order on Consent requiring the City to complete work on two of the City's finished water reservoirs, Druid Lake and…” | ||||||
| Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore and 1 other plant named in the case | Oct 2017 FY2000 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $600,000 | ECHO 03-2000-0317 |
| City Of Frederick Wastewater Treatment Plant-2012 Frederick | Jul 2012 FY2012 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $900 | ECHO 03-2012-0184 |
| Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Apr 2010 FY2010 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order Issued | $1,950 | ECHO 03-2010-0108 |
| Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore and 1 other plant named in the case | Sep 2006 FY2006 | Administrative order | Underground Storage Tanks Compliance Order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,832 | ECHO 03-2006-0074 |
| Ocean City Wastewater Treatment Plant Ocean City | Jan 2006 FY2005 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order Issued | $400 | ECHO 03-2005-0275 |
EPA's description: “Administrative Penalty Order” | ||||||
| City Of Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Salisbury | Jul 2003 FY2003 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $14,255 | ECHO 03-2003-0039 |
EPA's description: “Respondent discharged from out falls in its collection system w/o authorization. Respondent also discharged effluent from the permitted out fall of its plant which effluent contained pollutants…” | ||||||
| Town Of La Plata La Plata | Sep 2001 FY2001 | Administrative order | Sewage Sludge Disposal | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2001-0261 |
Full case histories, milestones, violation types and EPA's complete case summaries for every plant are shown with a free Klarifi account. Create one
Largest penalties in Maryland
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore and 1 other plant named in the case | Oct 2017 FY2000 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $600,000 | $2,584M | ECHO 03-2000-0317 |
| 2 | Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Nov 1999 FY1997 | Judicial case | Final Order Entered | $500,000 | $2M | ECHO 03-1997-0026 |
| 3 | City Of Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Salisbury | Jul 2003 FY2003 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $14,255 | — | ECHO 03-2003-0039 |
| 4 | Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore and 1 other plant named in the case | Sep 2006 FY2006 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,832 | $3,060 | ECHO 03-2006-0074 |
| 5 | Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant Baltimore | Apr 2010 FY2010 | Administrative order | Final Order Issued | $1,950 | $8,998 | ECHO 03-2010-0108 |
| 6 | City Of Frederick Wastewater Treatment Plant-2012 Frederick | Jul 2012 FY2012 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $900 | $516 | ECHO 03-2012-0184 |
| 7 | Ocean City Wastewater Treatment Plant Ocean City | Jan 2006 FY2005 | Administrative order | Final Order Issued | $400 | $357 | ECHO 03-2005-0275 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 0 | — |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 0 | — |
| FY2021 | 0 | — |
| FY2022 | 0 | — |
| FY2023 | 2 | — |
| FY2024 | 0 | — |
| FY2025 | 0 | — |
| FY2026 | 0 | — |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in Maryland: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Maryland?
EPA's enforcement records list 13 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Maryland, 2 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 7 of the state's 117 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Maryland wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore: $600,000 assessed in fiscal year 2000 (BALTIMORE, MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL OF, Final Order With Penalty). Penalties are the amounts EPA records as assessed or agreed, not necessarily what was collected.
What does an EPA administrative order mean for a wastewater plant?
Most cases here are administrative orders under section 309 of the Clean Water Act: EPA finds permit violations, usually effluent limits or discharge without a permit, and orders the plant to return to compliance, often with a corrective action plan, a schedule and sometimes a penalty. Judicial cases go through the Department of Justice and typically end in a consent decree with a capital programme behind it. The latest case in Maryland is from Jan 2024.
Enforcement data: EPA ICIS-FE&C civil enforcement cases and ICIS compliance inspections, via ECHO. Penalties are the amounts assessed or agreed in each case as EPA records them. Latest case status in this data: Jan 2024.
Try Klarifi for free
Create your own trial account and explore how Klarifi can help you.