Maryland Department of the Environment officials will be in Gambrills next week to answer questions about new laws regulating coal fly ash.
Crofton First, a local citizens group that has advocated against fly ash, is hosting the officials during a meeting at Waugh Chapel Community Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Fly ash, the byproduct of coal combustion power plants, was used to reclaim former sand pits and was blamed for contaminating dozens of wells in Gambrills. The new laws are supposed to provide tougher regulations on how the material is disposed.
Crofton and Gambrills residents earlier this month voiced their concern that MDE was holding just one public meeting on the regulations in Baltimore during the day, when many residents could not attend.
County Executive John R. Leopold also reached out to MDE for a meeting in the county, as the Gambrills issue has been the catalyst behind the regulations.
Stephen Pattison, MDE?s assistant secretary, will be there to answer questions about the proposed regulations.
“While the meeting is not exactly what we have requested, we are pleased to host MDE and happy that they extended comment period toFeb. 26,” said Madonna Brennan, co-chairwoman of Crofton First.
Brennan said she expected a turnout similar to the group?s last fly ash forum, which drew more than 200 people.
Only a handful of people testified at MDE?s first public meeting, though many residents have expressed concerns that the regulations do not do enough to control airborne fly ash
and public notification and involvement.
Pattison has said MDE would review those concerns in its revision of the regulations.
