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Major Increase in Nitrogen Pollution Emphasizes Need to Quickly Fix Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plants
July 6, 2022
Nitrogen pollution from wastewater plants in Maryland increased by 2.5 million pounds—nearly 50 percent—in 2021 compared to 2020 in large part due to failures at the state’s two largest wastewater treatment plants, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program.
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CBF Issues Statement on Back River Sewage Treatment Plant Report
June 10, 2022
As a result of significant problems at Baltimore City’s Back River sewage treatment plant, MDE ordered the Maryland Environmental Service to take over management of the plant and issue a report concerning what they found. The report found major infrastructure failures as well as problems with safety, management, and staffing.
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CBF Statement on Maryland Taking Over Back River Wastewater Plant
March 28, 2022
As a result of continued and unresolved problems at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore, MDE has directed the Maryland Environmental Service to take charge of operations at the plant. The directive was issued after Baltimore City failed to comply with a previous 48-hour order to end illegal discharges from the plant.
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Ongoing Issues at Baltimore’s Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Must Be Resolved
March 24, 2022
Today, the Maryland Department of Environment released an updated inspection report from Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant revealing significant and ongoing maintenance and operational failures that are resulting in excessive amounts of pollution reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
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CBF Supports Legislation to Increase Enforcement of Maryland Environmental Regulations
February 23, 2022
CBF is announcing its strong support of new legislation being considered in the Maryland General Assembly to address the long-term decline in state enforcement of water pollution discharge permits.
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CBF Statement in Response to Maryland’s Plan to Sue Baltimore over Wastewater Plant Pollution Violations
January 21, 2022
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is issuing the following statement in response to the move by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh to file legal action today against two Baltimore area wastewater treatment plants.
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CBF, JRA, and EIP Issue Statement on Henrico Consent Order
December 14, 2021
The State Water Control Board today approved another consent order with Henrico County that fails to solve chronic water pollution violations by its sewage treatment plant and sewage collection system.
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Clean Water Advocates File Federal Lawsuit to Halt Decades of Violations by Henrico Sewage System
December 6, 2021
Three environmental organizations filed a federal lawsuit today to halt decades of water pollution violations by Henrico County’s sewage treatment plant and sewage collection system, including the release of more than 66 million gallons of raw sewage into the James River in the last five years alone.
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Eastern Shore Development's Wastewater Treatment Plan Raises Environmental Concerns
October 28, 2021
The precedent setting Lakeside at Trappe wastewater permit deserves additional public scrutiny.
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Alexandria Renew Enterprises to Prevent Millions of Gallons of Sewage Pollution
September 30, 2021
This morning, Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), Alexandria’s wastewater treatment provider, celebrated the groundbreaking of a major initiative to control millions of gallons of raw sewage polluting the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.
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Virginia House and Senate Boost Budgets for Clean Water Programs
August 9, 2021
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, meeting in a special session today, approved appropriations that will substantially increase investments in programs that lead to cleaner water in rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.
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Gov. Northam Proposes Clean Water Investments Totaling $411.5 Million in Federal Funds
July 27, 2021
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today announced a $411.5 million proposal to invest federal American Rescue Plan funds in updating Virginia wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
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Baltimore Marks Milestone in Addressing Sewer Overflows
July 6, 2021
After years of advocacy, a major upgrade at the city’s Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant will help prevent millions of gallons of sewage from flowing into Baltimore Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay.
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Governor Northam Signs Clean Water Bills
June 25, 2021
Today at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation that will benefit the environment and the Chesapeake Bay. The bills were passed earlier this year by the Virginia General Assembly.
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CBF Commends Officials on Formal Kickoff for Baltimore Headworks Project
May 10, 2021
Today, Baltimore and Maryland officials held a formal ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of the Headworks Project, a $429 million upgrade to the city’s Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant that’s designed to prevent sewer overflows.
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CBF Files Lawsuit Contesting Wastewater Permit for Major Proposed Eastern Shore Development
February 1, 2021
Today CBF filed a lawsuit against the Maryland Department of the Environment contesting the legality of the wastewater discharge permit it issued for Trappe at Lakeside, a major development proposed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
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Richmond to Address Sewage Overflows into James River under Legislation
March 4, 2020
Richmond will take aggressive steps to address sewage overflows into the James River under legislation just passed by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.
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Tom and Andrew's Blog
November 8, 2018
Many are asking what yesterday's election will mean for the Bay. Our staff are assessing the new political landscape and the opportunities and challenges that may lie ahead.
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Fixing the Pipes in Charm City
July 5, 2018
One hundred and fourteen years ago, spring was an exciting time in Baltimore.
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Charlottesville Invests in a Cleaner Rivanna River
December 6, 2017
CBF volunteer, Doug DeGood details the clean water benefits of a new wastewater facility at Moores Creek in Charlottesville, VA.
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CBF: Baltimore Should Provide Its Residents with Regular Information on Sewer Improvements
August 9, 2017
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Alison Prost, Maryland Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, issued this statement today following a vote by the Baltimore Board of Estimates to approve a modified consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Maryland Department of the Environment to reduce sanitary sewer overflows in the city.
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Sweet (Bipartisan) Success with Sewage
July 18, 2017
It's not often you see people this excited about a sewage plant.
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CBF Statement on Richmond's Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
May 5, 2017
(RICHMOND, VA)—Today the City of Richmond marked the completion of a multi-year effort to significantly reduce nutrient pollution discharged into the James River by the city's wastewater treatment plant.
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Statement on Governor Signing Bill to Fix Alexandria's Combined Sewer System
April 21, 2017
(RICHMOND, VA)—Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed legislation today that will require Alexandria to upgrade its outdated combined sewer system by 2025.
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CBF Statement on Proposals for Addressing Alexandria's Combined Sewer System
March 28, 2017
(RICHMOND, VA)—Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has proposed giving Alexandria until as late as 2030 to address upgrades to its outdated combined sewer system, which sends untreated sewage into waterways and jeopardizes human health and water quality.