Days Cove Discharge Application Withdrawn, Regional Water Quality Relief

Operators of the Days Cove rubble landfill formally withdrew their request to expand the site s permitted discharge into the Bird River on December 17, 2025, removing the item from consideration by the Maryland Board of Public Works. The move followed weeks of vocal public opposition from residents living near the site and environmental groups who raised concerns about water quality, recreation and public health impacts for communities across the East side of the region.

The permit application sought permission to increase the volume of storm water and other permitted outflows from the rubble landfill into the Bird River, a waterway used by local boaters, anglers and shoreline residents. The planned Board of Public Works review prompted coordinated outreach from elected officials who urged regulators and the landfill s operators to address community concerns before any change in discharge was approved. That outreach played a key role in the decision to withdraw the application prior to the board meeting.

State Sen. J. B. Jennings and the Maryland Department of the Environment issued statements after the withdrawal, acknowledging the community s concerns and indicating continued regulatory oversight. The department emphasized that any future operations at the site will remain subject to state environmental standards and monitoring as plans for the facility evolve.

Operators have said the landfill will be capped and closed over time, a process intended to limit leachate and runoff and to reduce ongoing discharges to nearby waterways. The details and timeline for capping and closure were not finalized with the withdrawal, leaving local leaders and environmental groups focused on securing clear milestones and enforceable protections as the site moves toward closure.

Although the landfill sits in Baltimore County, local organizers framed the outcome as a regional win for East side neighborhoods and for the many people who use the Bird River for recreation. The episode underscores how local land use decisions can ripple across Baltimore area environmental and public health interests, and it signals that community engagement and elected official intervention can shape outcomes for waterfront neighborhoods.