From Maryland Environmental Service:
HOGAN ADMINISTRATION RELEASES CONOWINGO DAM PILOT PROJECT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
State of Maryland Seeking a Private Partner to Help Demonstrate Results of Sediment Removal
The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) announced Sept. 1 the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Conowingo Capacity Recovery and Innovative Reuse and Beneficial Use Pilot Project (Conowingo RFP). MES is seeking a private sector partner that can accommodate all components of the proposed pilot project.
“The scientific community is now in complete agreement with our assessment of the danger posed by sediment at the Conowingo Dam and it is absolutely vital that we find real solutions to this problem,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This RFP is a significant and positive step in the right direction and will help us continue to make progress in our efforts to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay.”
“Today marks a very important milestone in fulfilling Governor Hogan’s direction on a demonstration project for improvement at the Conowingo Dam,” said MES Director/CEO Roy McGrath. “As planned, the Request for Proposal published by MES yesterday opens a path for progress on addressing the critical issue of sediment and nutrient buildup and leakage from the Conowingo Reservoir. We look forward to the innovative responses from potential private sector partners,” said Mr. McGrath.
MES, at the direction of the Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Council, is managing the 25,000 cubic yard demonstration project to help the State determine a successful path forward for preventing sediments and nutrients from flowing down the Susquehanna River into the Chesapeake Bay, and for finding innovative reuses of the material.
Conowingo Dam is a hydroelectric dam built in 1928 that has been trapping sediment from the Susquehanna River that could affect the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. According to a report issued with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the dam has recently reached a point at which, over time, the same amount of pollution and sediment flowing into the Conowingo reservoir is also flowing out.
A notice to contractors regarding the Conowingo RFP can be found at eMaryland Marketplace and the solicitation can be found on the MES website www.menv.com. MES’ intention is to obtain construction services under the RFP with the selected Offeror and to make a single award as a result of the RFP. Procurement questions should be directed to Procurement@menv.com.
Maryland Environmental Service (MES) is an independent, self-supporting State agency that enhances and protects Maryland’s environment by finding innovative solutions to our region’s most complex environmental challenges. MES serves as a unique, not-for-profit public corporation that combines public sector commitment to environmental protection with private sector flexibility and responsiveness. Created in 1970, MES now has 800 employees and operates a $165M agency delivering technical and operational environmental services. More than two-thirds of MES revenues flow directly to the private sector. MES receives no direct State appropriations, and does not have regulatory authority. To learn more, visit www.menv.com.
Why not just dredge all that material into rail cars and haul it back to Pennsylvania? Then it could be dumped into any one of the hundreds of abandoned coal mines and extinguish the many fires burning underground. Solves two problems at one time…