On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to accept review of the recent Title VI Civil Rights Complaint filed on behalf of South Baltimore residents enduring pollution from Maryland’s largest trash incinerator. The complaint was filed with EPA on May 28, 2024, by the South Baltimore Community Land Trust (SBCLT), represented by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).
EPA’s acceptance is an initial step in the complaint review process. With the decision, EPA has indicated its intent to investigate SBCLT’s allegations against Baltimore City and Department of Public Works’ (DPW) 10-year solid waste management plan. The complaint claims that the plan unequally contributes to health risks faced by people living in one of Baltimore’s most disadvantaged communities.
By deciding to accept and investigate this Title VI complaint, EPA has taken a promising step towards addressing the concerns raised by South Baltimore communities that have endured the harmful effects of Baltimore Refuse Energy Systems Company’s (BRESCO) pollution for decades.
In response to EPA’s decision, partners have issued the following statements:
Carlos Sanchez with SBCLT said:
“As a lifelong South Baltimore resident and someone who loves my community of Lakeland, I’m thankful for EPA’s action to accept our complaint. Every day we live with the consequences of our city’s ongoing missed opportunity to budget for a just transition to zero waste away from toxic trash incineration. The good news is this is a fixable problem and we are confident that our city leadership, who understand the importance of equity, will step up and do the right thing and begin to treat this environmental justice issue with the urgency it deserves.”
CBF Environmental Justice Staff Attorney Taylor Lilley said:
“The residents living near BRESCO deserve more from their city. While EPA’s decision marks the first step in a longer investigation, we are hopeful that this path leads to cleaner air and safer lives for South Baltimore communities.”
EIP Senior Attorney Leah Kelly said:
“This is a preliminary but encouraging step forward in EPA’s process for reviewing Civil Rights complaints. Residents of South Baltimore deserve to live in a clean and healthy environment. We hope that EPA’s investigation leads to real benefits for these communities after decades of decisions to add more pollution sources to this area.”
