Ehrlich Questioned On Centreville Wastewater Problems

BALTIMORE -- For weeks, WBAL-TV 11 News has shown millions of gallons of sewage flowing into the bay.

Since the investigation started, people have been fired, voted out of office, homes and lives have been put on hold and a criminal probe was launched. However, nothing has been heard from Gov. Robert Ehrlich -- the man who said cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay is one of his top priorities.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter John Sherman caught up with Ehrlich -- a man who is very confident the state is doing all it can.

Ehrlich said while the plant is a problem, his oversight agency is in no way to blame.

Ehrlich: "Clearly there were problems, violations that have occurred here."

At a construction site in Montgomery County, Ehrlich stands firmly behind Maryland's Department of the Environment -- the agency overseeing this pollution.

Sherman: "Is MDE capable of overseeing wastewater treatment plants in Maryland?"

Ehrlich: "It's certainly their charter and the answer is yes."

But the Queen Anne's County commissioners disagree.

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Ehrlich Answers Criticisms About Wastewater Investigation

Sherman: "The Queen Anne's County commissioners are writing a letter to you -- you'll receive it next week sometime -- saying that they have no faith in MDE and want the EPA to step in. What do you say to them?"

Ehrlich: "Are all three commissioners going to sign the letter?"

Sherman: "I believe it's five."

Ehrlich: "Are three of the five or is it just one?"

Sherman: "I think it's unanimous."

Ehrlich: "Check your facts on that."

Sherman: "Really?"

Ehrlich: "Yeah, check your facts on that question. I'll be glad to answer that question when you check your facts."

We did double-check our facts. Quinn Anne's County commission president Ben Cassell, a Republican, confirms the letter will be sent next week and signed by all 5 commissioners.

According to Cassell, it will say, "we're disappointed in the state and we're looking for confirmation that MDE and the state care about the people of Queen Anne's County."

Sherman: "MDE had told us one thing on at least three different occasions then within a matter of days or weeks later gone back and said that wasn't in fact the case. They've been telling the same things to the people of Centreville. How can they have any faith in the agency?"

Ehrlich: "How can I answer that question? Be specific in your question."

Sherman: "First, they told us it was a maintenance issue and it would all be gone in a few days then they said it was a capacity issue. First, they said they can handle the development then they said they can't handle the development."

Ehrlich: "If you check the facts and the chronology of events, you will see that we initially relied on what the locals were telling us, which is how the system works."

But 11 News has obtained dozens of documents from MDE showing that even though the Centreville leaders now under investigation may have been deflating the numbers they reported, the number they were reporting to MDE clearly showed the plant was over capacity for months at a time, including all of May, June and July last year.

Clearly a red flag, but the state did nothing.

Even in January, when a whistleblower wrote a letter to the state, the dumping continued for at least five more months.

Sherman: "The whistleblower wrote his letter in January. The plant has continued to spill from then to now. How could that happen on your watch?"

Ehrlich: "Whose watch?"

Sherman: "Your watch."

Ehrlich: "(laughs) Obviously once we found out about it we took all the appropriate action."

There has also been a significant development in Centreville. Town leaders have crunched the numbers again and now believe that the town's new sewage treatment plant -- slated to open in the fall -- will already be over capacity when it goes online.

So what does that mean for the people of Centreville?

It looks like the moratorium on new development may be extended on some home sites for five to ten more years.

Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and 11 News for the latest news updates.