Ryan D. Showalter, the attorney representing the project, did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
Neither side was happy with the MDE’s decision, which was met with heavy public outcry against Trappe’s Lakeside because it could affect the Chesapeake Bay and rural Talbot County.
Environmentalists who say massive new development threatens the Chesapeake watershed have expressed disappointment that Maryland’s environmental watchdog has approved another spray irrigation system. , argue that it suggests a statewide pattern of blind spots in agency oversight obligations.
Choptank river keeper Matthew Pulta said, “We are definitely disappointed, but not surprised, that the department has generally issued permits.” We told MDE that it was not an adequate means of treating wastewater without polluting the river.”
Pluta and other critics expressed concern that MDE’s decision left the possibility of building a gigantic project and called for additional efforts to stop it.
“This drastically reduced capacity imposed by the MDE on the size of the new Lakeside power plant is another reason why Talbot County should withdraw Lakeside’s approval,” at online news site Talbot Spy.
But as first envisioned by Northern Virginia’s developers and the governing body of the town of Trapp, Lakeside’s supporters also got less than they hoped, says Laura, a member of the Talbot County Council. E. Price (R) said. She called MDE’s decision a “reasonable compromise.”
“Developers definitely want no restrictions at all. It’s not going to get more restrictive. And I’m sure there were quite a few people who wanted no permissions at all.” Price said. “I don’t think MDE had the ability to just say no. It’s not MDE’s job for him to just say no.”
After reviewing data and public comments, MDE officials said they have scaled back the developer’s initial wastewater discharge permit request from 540,000 million gallons per day to 100,000 million gallons per day.
The agency’s final permit to Lakeside, where Phase 1 of construction of the 95 homes began in July 2021, will direct the wastewater from these homes to new state-of-the-art facilities rather than the aging facilities of traps. It also requires that it be redirected to a wastewater system.
“The Maryland Department of Environment has always made it clear that public participation is an important component of the permit application review process,” said MDE spokesman Jay Aperson, who said that the agency’s draft permits have been approved. I mentioned it in an email detailing the revision.
Lakeside attorney Showalter argues fears of damaging the bay are exaggerated and objected to spreading misinformation about the project’s decades-long efforts to gain government approval. denounced the sect.
Trappe’s lakeside has been a controversy since its inception almost two decades ago when the small town found itself in financial jeopardy over the rising cost of an aging wastewater treatment plant. .
As such, the town partnered with a developer in Northern Virginia to upgrade its system and spur new growth on 924 acres of land annexed from the county. Rocks Engineering, along with its engineering firm Rauch, set out to build a new community with parks, bike paths and other amenities.
Pluta expressed satisfaction that MDE had “watered down” the developer’s original plans, and said it was still very possible that environmentalists would go to court to challenge MDE’s decision. Stated. He conceded that Lakeside’s patrons might do the same.
