CBF Questions Hazardous Waste Disposal at Back River

Following the announcement that waste water from the East Palestine, OH, train crash will be ultimately disposed of at the Back River Wastewater Treatment plant, Doug Myers, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Senior Scientist, issued this statement.

“The recent history of failures and violations at the Back River plant gives pause about whether this wastewater can be adequately treated. As of today, we are not sure whether the plant can handle the normal volume of waste it receives daily. 

“Nearby communities were already burdened by a litany of excess discharges at the plant. Disposing of this additional wastewater raises serious questions that must be answered to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities as well as the health of Back River and the Bay. Before any waste is delivered to the plant, there must be answers for the community’s concerns and a level of transparency that we haven’t seen at that plant in years.”