Please contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Dept. Of The Environment and Senator Kevin M. Harris, also Delegate Jeffrie Long Jr. Please have them advance 2025 Legislation, in the 2026 General Assembly, to have GenOn, the owner of the North Key, Brandywine Coal Ash Pit to pay for or reimburse the State of Maryland, to install a liner to contain contaminants from leaking into grounds water contaminating Mattawoman Creek and the Patuxent River.
Maryland General Assembly Bills SB0425 and CH0529 on Environment – Coal Combustion By-Products – Fees, Coordinating Committee, and Regulations.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0425?ys=2025RS
Based on recent reports, North Key Community Park in Brandywine, Maryland, is located directly adjacent to a 140-acre landfill that has dumped millions of tons of coal ash since 1970. While cleanup efforts have been discussed, the site has not been fully remediated, and hazardous materials from the unlined facility continue to pose risks. Here is the status of the issues you mentioned:Cleanup of Coal Ash/Rubble Blow Over: Despite a 2013 Consent Order requiring GenOn (the owner) to address contamination, reports from 2024 and 2025 indicate that “virtually no remediation has occurred” in some areas, and issues with coal ash blowing offsite have persisted.No Liner and Groundwater Leakage: Reports indicate that only a small, newer portion of the 139-acre landfill is lined, leaving a large portion of the waste unlined and allowing contaminants to leak into the groundwater.Arsenic Contamination: Groundwater beneath the landfill (labeled as a “ticking time bomb”) still contains unsafe levels of arsenic, mercury, and other pollutants, according to Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) records as of March 2025.Park Safety Concerns: Community leaders have expressed alarm that these hazards are located immediately next to the community’s only park, where children play and fish. Current OutlookAs of early 2025, the Maryland Department of the Environment has continued to monitor the site, and community advocates are pushing for stricter enforcement, as groundwater contamination levels have continued to rise in some cases.
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