The coal fly ash issue in Anne Arundel County now has a state delegate pushing for independent testing of wells in Brandon Woods for cancer-causing heavy metals.
“Every [monitoring] well in Solley Road area had close to the maximum allowed level of cadmium, which is known to cause cancer,” said Del. Nicholaus Kipke, R-District 31, who represents the Brandon Woods area in eastern Anne Arundel.
Constellation Energy monitors its owns wells in the area, as the coal-firing Brandon Shores Power Plant is just a few miles away.
County Health Officer Frances Phillips said only one private well exists in the area and the rest of the residents are on public water systems.
“But there could be an impact on the natural resources in terms of environmental pollution,” Phillips said.
Kipke?s concerns revolve around the coal fly ash used in developments between Fort Smallwood and Solley roads. County officials linked the material, a byproduct of the coal-burning process, to contaminated wells in Gambrills.
County Executive John R. Leopold said Tuesday that he is drafting a bill banning the material from being used in the county.
Constellation Energy spokesman Kevin Thornton said he could not comment on the fly ash issue in Brandon Woods.
Kipke said he would support Leopold?s ban and added that during next year?s sessions, he hopes to toughen the state regulations on fly ash.
“It?s a great step to protect citizens? well water,” Kipke said. “There has to be a better wayof dumping fly ash. It may cost more money, but it may be worth it.”
AT A GLANCE
The Brandon Shores Power Plant produces the fly ash during the coal combustion process from its 650-megawatt coal pulverizers.
Separation Technologies LLC processes the fly ash on site, which is used in concrete mixes and infill operations, such as the one in Gambrills.
Attempts to reach officials at Separation Technologies? parent company Titan America went unanswered.
The airborne ash from the plant?s smokestacks also has been a bane of local residents. Constellation Energy announced in June that it will have scrubbers controlling the plant?s emissions by 2010.
