County Investigators Cite Contractors For Toxic Spill In Turkey Branch

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6513
James Caldwell, 240-777-7700

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2000

COUNTY INVESTIGATORS CITE CONTRACTOR
FOR TOXIC SPILL IN TURKEY BRANCH

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigators today cited Chamberlain Contractors, Inc. for violating Chapter 19 of the County's Water Quality Ordinance. About 1,000 fish were killed when asphalt sealer, applied to the Northgate Shopping Center parking lot by Chamberlain, was washed into the Turkey Branch stream by rainfall.

"I commend the Department's quick response, thorough investigation, and rapid identification of the responsible party which led to a speedy resolution of this unfortunate incident," said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. "Montgomery County is committed to preserving and protecting the environment and aggressively enforcing our pollution prevention laws. We will continue to do all we can to ensure that polluters are held responsible for their actions."

On Tuesday, July 25, DEP received a citizen call alerting the department to a fish kill on Turkey Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek. DEP and Maryland Department of Environment investigators responded to the call immediately. When they arrived on the site, they detected a strong smell of asphalt coming from Turkey Branch and observed that the stream bottom was coated with a black substance, which was subsequently identified as pavement sealer, consisting of coal tar, kaolin and water.

Fish in the stream died when the sealer coated their gills, preventing them from breathing. It does not appear that Rock Creek, nor any fish in Rock Creek, were affected.

Chamberlain sealed the parking lot, located at the intersection of Aspen Hill Rd., Connecticut Ave., and Georgia Ave., on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Rainfall Sunday evening occurred before the sealer was dry, washing it off the parking lot, into the shopping center storm drain, and then into the stream.

Chamberlain has been issued a citation with a $500 fine, the maximum allowed under County law. In addition, the contractor will be required to pay an estimated $7,000 to clean out the stormwater management facility under the shopping center parking lot to prevent further contamination of Turkey Branch from any sealer that may have accumulated in the storage basin.

For more information, call the Department of Environmental Protection at 240-777-7700.

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