One Year Later, Kent County Chemical Plant Cleanup Stalls

Michele Merkel, Chesapeake coordinator for the Waterkeeper Alliance, said the protracted Genovique cleanup is part of a pattern of flagging environmental enforcement in Maryland. State data show declines last year in both the number of sites inspected and actions taken, she noted.

"They either don't have the resources or the political will to adequately address violations of environmental laws," she said.

Stoltzfus said the state is dedicated to cleaning up the plant but acknowledged that "resources are limited." She said the agency is overseeing about 100 consent decrees requiring pollution cleanups.

Stoltzfus said Genovique has begun treating its wastewater in recent months to remove phosphorus. And the contamination problems are limited for now to the plant site, she said.

"If there were public health risks, if drinking water were involved, it would be a different situation," the state spokeswoman said. "But we have to set priorities when resources are tight."