County asks state delegation to revisit Ocean Pines Bay restoration fee exemption denial

Worcester County commissioners voted Feb. 17 to ask the county's state delegation to intervene after the state denied an exemption request from the Bay restoration fee for the Ocean Pines wastewater treatment plant.

Public Works staff explained that the Ocean Pines plant is typically exempt from the state Bay restoration fee — a $60 per EDU charge — if the facility has not accepted state or federal grant funds and can meet average nutrient thresholds (nitrogen under 3.0 mg/L and phosphorus under 0.3 mg/L). Staff said cold weather in January–February 2025 pushed short‑term analytes above the fee's annual averaging criteria. The county requested a cold‑weather exemption similar to one granted in 2011, but staff said the state denied the 2025 request without a detailed explanation, noting the state relied on a long record of data from other plants.

"We did meet our permit limits. We just did not meet the Bay Restoration fee criteria," Public Works said. Commissioners asked if different testing labs might yield different phosphorus results; staff said they will send full analyses to other labs for comparison. Commissioner Bertino moved that the county request assistance from the state delegation; Commissioner Fiore seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

What this means: The board has requested legislative or administrative assistance; any change would depend on state action or further technical demonstration to the Maryland Department of the Environment or related state agencies.