South Baltimore medical waste company hit with $1 million+ fine for environmental violations
BALTIMORE -- A South Baltimore medical waste company has agreed to pay a one million dollar fine and fund an environmental program for the local community after entering a plea agreement with the state over dozens of environmental violations.
In a plea agreement, Curtis Bay Energy, LP pleaded guilty to 40 counts related to "systemic, improper, and unsafe handling, transport, and disposal of insufficiently incinerated special medical waste," according to the Office of the Attorney General.
"They public relies on them to do their job and keep us safe. They didn't," Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said Tuesday. "It is what the previous owner of Curtis Bay Energy didn't do when they received this special medical waste that was most egregious."
The company pled guilty to a 40-count indictment, after failing to properly dispose of dangerous medical waste, according to the attorney general's office. The company was also accused of transporting the unsafe waste to landfills in Virginia.
The Curtis Bay Energy facility off Hawkins Point Road has the largest medical waste incinerators in the country and is one of the few such facilities along the east coast.
The investigation started in 2019 and inspectors needed to return to the facility multiple times, according to the court documents.
The plant's compliance manager tried raising concerns, but the plant operations director, Kenneth Jackson, dismissed them, according to the plea agreement. Another employee raised concerns with human resources and is quoted in documents as saying, "I'm not going to jail."
"Employees of Curtis Bay Energy had voiced concern about these practices, but to no avail," Katie Dorian of the Office of the Attorney General said. "Those employees regularly observed insufficiently burned special medical waste such as red bags, surgical gloves, medical supplies, bedding, and more."
Jackson pleaded guilty to 5 criminal counts for improper handling of waste and the illegal operation of an unpermitted outlet.
An attorney representing Jackson says his client has paid his fine to the Maryland Clean Water Fund after being sentenced Oct. 2.
"We note that the water that was discharged on to the ground was simply that – steam condensate that is essentially tap water with certain impurities removed by the process," Jackson's attorney W. William Hamel said. "As to the ash, the medical waste was heated to between 1800 and 2000 degrees, well beyond the temperature required to assure that the ash was sterilized, and all ash was disposed of at an appropriate landfill in Virginia."
A company spokesperson said the current ownership has "fully cooperated" with the state's investigation into past violations.
"Since acquiring the company, new ownership and facility management have significantly increased investments in plant equipment, personnel, process improvements and training. Curtis Bay Energy remains committed to increasing its investment for preventative maintenance and workforce training," Kelly Love of Curtis Bay Energy said.
The case against another former manager, Thomas Keefer, remains open.
In addition to the one million dollar fine, the company has agreed to pay $750,000 to a Supplemental Environmental Fund to be administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
