Answers to frequently asked questions
- Where is the site located?
- How long has coal ash been placed at that site?
- Where did the ash come from?
- When were potential problems at the site discovered?
- How many residential wells are affected by groundwater impacts?
- Were there any signs of groundwater problems prior to October 2006?
- What is being done to fix the problem?
- What has Constellation done to help neighbors whose wells could be affected?
- A new development, Waugh Chapel South, is soon to be built on a portion of the sand and gravel pit. Will construction disturb the coal ash?
- Ask your own question.
Q. Where is the site located?
A. The sand and gravel mine, owned by BBBS Inc., is located in Gambrills in Anne Arundel County, MD. The site is bordered by Rt. 3, Waugh Chapel Road, Evergreen Road and Brickhead Road.
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Q. How long has coal ash been placed at that site?
A. Coal ash was first placed at the site in 1995, and continued to be deposited until 2007. The coal ash was used as structural fill to reclaim land that had been mined for sand and gravel. Constellation Energy placed approximately 4.6 million tons of ash at the site. The placement was reviewed and permitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). No new ash has been placed at the site since September 2007 and the process of grading, compacting and covering the ash was completed in November 2007.
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Q. Where did the ash come from?
A. The coal ash came from the Wagner and Brandon Shores power plants in Anne Arundel County, which are owned by Constellation Power Source Generation, Inc. For more information about how coal ash is generated, see "Facts about Coal Ash".
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Q. When were potential problems with private wells discovered?
A. Constellation Energy initiated sampling of residential wells in October 2006, based on trends observed in monitoring wells at the BBSS site. Groundwater testing at the BBSS site was a part of Constellation's ongoing pollution prevention program. When a private well sample indicated a potential problem, Constellation immediately retested it and also tested adjacent private wells. Constellation Energy immediately and voluntarily reported the results of testing to the homeowners, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, and MDE. Constellation Energy also provided bottled water to residents.
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How many residential wells are affected by groundwater impacts?
A. Four wells tested by Constellation Energy indicated the presence of metals at levels slightly above MDE's allowable health-based thresholds for drinking water. When tests were conducted a second and third time on the same wells, results showed that most wells met EPA standards.
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Q. Were there any signs of groundwater problems prior to October 2006?
A. Previous tests, all reported to MDE, indicated elevated sulfate levels in groundwater. Sulfate is not deemed a health hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency, although the EPA sets secondary standards for what is considered excessive concentrations in drinking water, primarily for aesthetic reasons. In consultation with MDE, Constellation Energy took steps to reduce the sulfate level by reducing the working area of the uncovered coal ash at the site, increasing the thickness and reducing the permeability of the capping material, and installing a pumping system designed to collect and treat affected groundwater.
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Q. What is being done to fix the problem?
A. Constellation Energy entered into a consent agreement with MDE on Oct. 1, 2007. The agreement calls for Constellation to determine the extent of the problem, develop solutions and follow increased reporting requirements. The agreement also requires the replacement of a small number of residential wells, which is being accomplished by connecting the residences to the county water system, and the voluntary replacement or treatment of a number of additional wells. The first phase of the remediation process was completed in early May 2008 when Constellation filed with MDE the results of groundwater evaluation and remediation recommendations.
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Q. What has Constellation done to help neighbors whose wells could be affected?
A. In September 2007, Constellation told residents in the area that it would pay to connect a number of homes on Summerfield and Brickhead Roads to the Anne Arundel County water system. In the interim, Constellation has provided these homes with bottled water for drinking and a temporary county water supply.
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Q. A new development, Waugh Chapel South, is soon to be built on a portion of the sand and gravel pit. Will construction disturb the coal ash?
A. Sometime this summer, construction is expected to begin on the new development. Although the coal ash placed in this area is currently capped and covered, the new development will serve as an enhanced cap that will reduce the potential for coal ash to become wet. In constructing the new buildings, it will be necessary for footers, foundations and utilities to penetrate the cap. Construction will follow MDE-approved guidelines designed to minimize dust and erosion of the ash. Any coal ash that must be removed from the site will be transported in covered and lined dump trucks, and will be deposited in a permitted landfill.
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