Toxic water from the Ohio train derailment is on its way to Baltimore. The water is scheduled to arrive as early as this Thursday, but not if local and state leaders have anything to say about it.
From state lawmakers proposing emergency legislation, to city leaders introducing a last-minute resolution, there’s growing pushback against plans to have wastewater from the East Palestine train derailment site treated in Baltimore.
“If I have to stand in front of the train to stop it, I will do it because we need to eliminate this before it happens," said Delegate Ric Metzgar of Baltimore County.
"There have already been too many concerns about the quality of water in Baltimore," said Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby.
On Wednesday, the Department of Public Works said it was notified by a private facility that they had been selected as one of the many sites across the country to treat then release a portion of the contaminated water. The private facility, Clean Harbors Environmental, said they’d be taking on an estimated 675,000 gallons of contaminated water in total. After treatment, they planned to flush the water directly into the city’s sewer lines where it would then make its way to the troubled Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant for processing.
But now, Mayor Brandon Scott thinks he’s found a way to block the water from entering Baltimore.
After further legal review, the city sent Clean Harbors a letter on Monday effectively denying their request to discharge the water into the city’s sewer system. In a statement, Mayor Scott wrote in part, “Clean Harbors has facilities across the country that may be better positioned to dispose of the treated wastewater, and we urge them to explore those alternatives.”
"There is a long history and track record of mishaps happening at this plant," said Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen.
Councilman Zeke Cohen echoed the mayor’s remarks, arguing the plant isn’t stable enough to take on any additional risks.
About a year ago, the state was forced to take control of the plant following multiple permit violations.
Then last June, a 239-page report from the Maryland Environmental Service outlined several operational, mechanical, staffing, and oversite failures, including pictures showing sludge in areas around the plant and pages worth of broken or only partially functioning equipment.
And just two weeks ago, an explosion rocked the facility and further shook the confidence of city leaders.
"Now is simply not the time for toxic water to be brought. Even if it goes through Clean Harbors and is mitigated there, we do not want it at Back River," said Cohen.