Harford Digest

Aberdeen fined over mercury spill

Aberdeen will pay a $200 fine and nearly $700 in restitution to the county's hazardous materials team, which responded to a small mercury spill at the city's water treatment plant two months ago.

The costs are in addition to the more than $5,000 the city paid a private contractor to clean up the spill in a little-used building at the plant.

A pressure switch weighted with mercury broke and leaked onto the floor in early May. Harford County's Local Emergency Planning Committee, which assessed the fine, was critical of the city's almost-one-week delay in notifying the county's hazardous materials team.

The globules of mercury covered a 3-foot-by-3-foot area but posed no threat to the water supply, officials said. No workers were harmed. As a precaution, city crews have replaced the switches in the building.

The committee also has ordered the city to file a report of its policy for handling spills of hazardous materials.

"This has been a learning experience for us," said Matthew Lapinsky, city director of public works. "We have an ironclad policy now."

Yard-waste site to open in Fallston

Residents can dispose of storm-damaged trees and other yard waste at a temporary drop-off site in Fallston.

Disposal containers will be in the Department of Parks and Recreation parking lot at Route 152 and Oakmont Road in Fallston starting tomorrow. They will remain open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through July 29.

The containers will accept yard trim and greenery from homeowners only - no commercial haulers - during the week when the Tollgate Yard Trim collection site is closed for the Harford County Farm Fair. The Tollgate site will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and will reopen July 30.

No trash, construction materials or other items will be accepted at the temporary site. Homeowners may continue to drop off yard waste at the Harford Waste Disposal Center's Composting Facility at 3135 Scarboro Road in Street. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The composting facility accepts the following lawn and garden trimmings: grass clippings (yard waste), leaves, branches up to 6 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length, brush and organic garden trimmings.

Information: 410-638-3637 or 410-638-3417.

Transportation plan available for review

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board will hold a public meeting on the draft version of a long-range transportation plan for the Baltimore region.

The meeting will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 31, with presentations at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., on the second floor of the Harford County Administration Building, 220 S. Main St., Bel Air.

The board is taking comments on the plan, titled Transportation Outlook 2035, through Aug. 29. The plan is available at www.baltometro.org, and at local libraries and planning offices.

Information: [e-mail].

Hearing on sludge set for Thursday

The Maryland Department of the Environment will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the auditorium at C. Milton Wright High School.

State officials will discuss the practice of spreading sludge on farm fields and in farmed areas of state parks.

The school is at 1301 N. Fountain Green Road in Bel Air.

Information: 410-537-3000.

Guardsman gets award for skills

Chief Master Sgt. Terry M. Allen of the Maryland National Guard has received the Air Force Association's annual Chief Master Sgt. Dick Red Award.

The award recognizes exceptional technical expertise in aircraft maintenance, leadership, contributions to unit training, and improvement of equipment capability, reliability and maintainability.

Allen, of Bel Air, is aircraft maintenance supervisor for the 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Essex.

He is the second Maryland National Guard member to receive the award.

`Beautiful People' sought for award

Nominations are being accepted through Aug. 3 for the 21st annual Harford's Most Beautiful People volunteer awards.

The award honors residents for acts of good will that previously have gone unnoticed.

Nominees and their guests will be honored at a program hosted by County Executive David R. Craig in October. One nominee will represent Harford County at the governor's reception later in the fall.

Nomination forms are available at all branches of the Harford County Library and senior centers.

Information: 410-638-4444 or www.harfordcountymd.gov.