* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Burnett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Fish Kills
For the purpose of requesting the Director of the Department of Public Works to testify at an informational hearing regarding a recent pipe break that spilled chlorinated water into Dead Run stream and killed 2000 fish.
body
Recitals
Whereas, A Baltimore City water pipe broke under the Ingleside Avenue Bridge in Woodlawn and dumped over 10 million gallons of chlorinated water into Dead Run stream between September 7 and September 9, 2019; and
Whereas, Dead fish were found along a 2-mile stretch of Dead Run stream below the pipe; and
Whereas, According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, the spill killed nearly 2000 fish, including 78 of the endangered American eel; and
Whereas, The fish were discovered 2 days after George Farrant, Vice President of Friends Gwynn Falls/Leakin Park, reported to the City that gray water that smelled strongly of chlorine was rushing into the stream; and
Whereas, the Maryland Department of the Environment found chlorine levels of 0.78 mg/L, or 8 times above the legal limit for a waterway, with chlorine levels of 0.78 mg/L being considered safe for human consumption; and
Whereas, The Maryland Department of the Environment found that the City Department of Public Works, as owner of the pipe, was in non-compliance due to the elevated levels of chlorine in the stream; and
Whereas, Last year the Maryland Department of the Environment cited the City for dumping as much as 4 times the legal limit of chlorinated water from the Druid Lake reservoir into the Jones Falls; and
Whereas, The Baltimore City Council wants to know what the Department of Public Works is doing to prevent fish kills and further spills of chlorinated water into streams and other bodies of water.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council requests the Director of the Department of Public Works to testify at an informational hearing regarding a recent pipe break that spilled chlorinated water into Dead Run stream and killed 2000 fish.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Director of the Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.