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Cumberland Concrete found guilty of violation

November 25th, 2014 by WCBC Radio

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Cumberland Concrete Corporation, a ready-mix and concrete block manufacturing facility in LaVale, was found guilty of violating its probation from a conviction in 2010 for failure to have and implement a written pollution prevention plan. Allegany County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Finan ruled that the company violated its probation based on testing and monitoring failures.

 

“These requirements are in place to protect the families, wildlife and recreational value of Maryland,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Not only did this company turn its back on the people of Western Maryland, it disregarded a court ruling and must pay the price.”

 

Cumberland Concrete Corporation pleaded guilty to 10 pollution counts in 2010. At the time, it was fined $35,000 and placed on five years probation with an additional suspended fine of $50,000 to be imposed should it violate the terms of probation. As a result of the court’s ruling, the defendant has been ordered to pay an additional $20,000 penalty to provide for the installation of a monitoring and testing system on the property. The company was also placed back on probation for the remainder of its 5 year term and the remaining $30,000 fine will continue suspended for the rest of the probation.

Under the parameters of the permit issued to the defendant by the Maryland Department of the Environment, the defendant was required to conduct specific, regular testing and sampling, maintain records, maintain certain discharge levels and report results to the Department. Evidence revealed in court showed that Cumberland Concrete Corporation failed to conduct testing and sampling as required, and did not submit reports from January 2011 through August 2013.

 

In making the announcement, Attorney General Gansler thanked Environmental Crimes Unit Chief Michelle Barnes for her work in this case.

 

 

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