In the wake of the March 26 collapse of Key Bridge in Baltimore, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is working around the clock in a support role. The agency’s emergency team responds to all events involving hazardous chemicals, including collisions on the roadway involving freight vehicles, train derailments, and even this bridge collapse.
“In this case, one bit of good news is that the disaster at the Key Bridge has not resulted in any major environmental impact to our waterways,” MDE Secretary Serena McIwain noted this week. “The cargo ship that struck the bridge contained hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel and oil that did not release into the water. There were hundreds of cargo containers, many of which contained hazardous chemicals, but none of the damage to the containers created a public health risk.”
McIlwain said the state has begun the long path to recovery, and that the MDE is already working alongside every agency of state government to restore this vital transit and commerce route in a way that avoids destruction of the state’s natural resources.
