2013 Annual Report
Prepared January 2014 by the Maryland Environmental Service, 259 Najoles Road, Millersville, Maryland
21108, telephone (410) 729-8370, fax (410) 729-8383.
Performed supplementary cleaning and maintenance at 60 Program-sponsored locations
during the year. Six sites also received additional cleaning and eight Harford County
sites are cleaned twice weekly.
With the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland boasts a large boating community. To serve the needs of
Maryland’s boating community, MES continues to provide collection sites at designated public marinas.
Additionally, several private marinas throughout the State also participate in the Program.
Good housekeeping practices are important aspects of spill control and contamination prevention. As
part of the administration of the Program, MES has conducted on-site audits of all Program-sponsored
collection facilities to assure that sponsors, recycling coordinators, site supervisors, and site operational
staff are aware of their pollution prevention responsibilities. Additionally, MES staff conducted routine
cleaning and maintenance, as necessary, to assist the site hosts in maintaining environmental
compliance. During the 2013 calendar year, MES performed supplementary cleaning and maintenance
at 68 Program-sponsored locations.
Although there were no noted incidents of non-compliance with any sites over the last year, the Program
continually reminds all site hosts that they are responsible for providing day-to-day monitoring and
housekeeping of their tanks. MES staff provides assistance with housekeeping and compliance, as
needed, based on the results of the routine site inspections. MES maintains a full-time staff to conduct
routine site audits and assist with site maintenance and cleaning. Sites are upgraded, as needed, to
increase compliance and minimize the potential for impacts to the environment.
Currently, there are a total of 140 participating
program collection sites. There has been a decrease
in the amounts collected over the past several years,
which can in part be attributed to local governments
withdrawing from the Program for prospects of
financial gain. Other factors may be the increase in
use of longer lasting synthetic oils; commercial
establishments offering recycling services; auto
service centers specializing in oil changes and
routine maintenance that are convenient and
reasonably priced; and possible theft of oil. Given
the constant concern over contaminated oil and
abuse of the sites by some individuals, including
unauthorized dumping of trash and hazardous materials MES continues to urge site hosts to remain in
the Program. Due to the fact that the used oil can be easily contaminated with PCBs, brake cleaning
fluids, and other readily accessible chemicals, MES and MDE feel that citizens are better served by local
governments staying within the established Program.
In an effort to combat theft, MES has purchased and placed surveillance cameras at several sites. While
they have not yet detected a theft, MES will continue to use the cameras at various sites. MES is also
considering other methods to deter thefts, such as placing locking caps on the tanks.