Report Agricultural Pollution
Maryland has specific procedures for addressing cases of water pollution caused by agriculture.
The procedures call for the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)—which has authority and expertise to identify and take action against water polluters—and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)—which has the technical expertise to assess farm management practices and address water quality concerns—to jointly handle agricultural pollution complaints.
A progressive approach to individual pollution cases based upon the severity of the situation is used:
- Timely, corrective action: Required for conditions that are likely to pollute or have resulted in inadvertent water pollution from an agricultural activity.
- Formal enforcement actions: Applied to chronic or willful mismanagement of agricultural resources or activities that place wastes, soils, or agricultural fertilizers in waters of the state.
Maryland's procedures place the maximum possible emphasis on voluntary, corrective actions by farmers or landowners with assistance by the local soil conservation district or University of Maryland Extension.
Where to call with agricultural & pollution complaints
Inadvertent water pollution
Contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) when conditions exist that are likely to pollute or have resulted in inadvertent water pollution (e.g., erosion problems or questionable manure management practices).
- Southern and Central Maryland: 50 Harry S. Truman Pkwy., Annapolis, MD 21401 or 410-841-5893
- Eastern Shore: 27722 Nanticoke Road, Unit 2, Salisbury, MD 21801 or 410-677-0802, ext. 1
- Western Maryland: 92 Thomas Johnson Dr., Suite 110, Frederick, MD 21702 or 301-695-2803, ext. 142
Waste, soil, or agricultural fertilizer-related water pollution
Contact MDE Water Management Administration when chronic or willful mismanagement of agricultural resources or activities places wastes, soils, or agricultural fertilizers into waters of the state (e.g., the failure of a waste storage system).
- Central Division: 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21230 or 410-537-3510
- Eastern Division: 407 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 or 410-901-4020
- Western Division (Frostburg Office): 160 South Water Street, Frostburg, MD 21532 or 301-689-1480
- Western Division (Hagerstown Office): 91 Eastern Blvd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 or 301-665-2850
Feedlots/animal feeding operation-related pollution
Contact MDE Land Management Administration to report pollution problems with feedlots/animal feeding operations, including Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and Maryland Animal Feeding Operations (MAFOs).
- Central Office: 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 610, Baltimore, MD 21230 or 410-537-4423
Soil erosion and water quality issues
Contact your local soil conservation district.