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- MD AG Intends to Sue Army for Ft. Meade Contamination
MD AG Intends to Sue Army for Ft. Meade Contamination
- By Dan Worth
- Published August 20, 2008
- Eastern Shore News
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today notified the U.S. Army
(“Army”) of Maryland’s intention to file a lawsuit to enforce the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) cleanup order for groundwater
and soil contamination at Fort Meade, MD.
The Notice of Intent (“NOI”), required under the citizen suit
provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”),
alleges that the Army has failed to comply with an existing EPA cleanup
order at Fort Meade. The NOI further notes the presence of contaminants
in the soils and groundwater, which exceed EPA’s maximum acceptable
levels, and may endanger health and the environment.
The Army, the EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment
(“MDE”) have been working together for years to investigate and
remediate pollution at Fort Meade. These efforts are progressing well
at many of the 150 identified sites at Fort Meade. However, in August
2007, the EPA issued a RCRA enforcement order to address cleanup at
Fort Meade. The RCRA Order found that there may be an imminent and
substantial endangerment at Fort Meade and ordered that immediate
actions be taken to protect public health and the environment. The Army
has refused to comply.

