State Investigates Oella Manure Leak in Ellicott City

The Maryland State Department of the Environment is investigating butcher shop after a liquid manure leak on Sunday led officials to close Main Street, according to a department spokesperson.

The leak left behind a trail of manure from Frederick Road and along the length of Main Street, as well as a smell that wafted through Old Ellicott City and into Oella.

The Department of the Environment got a call from Howard County Fire and Rescue at about 10:20 a.m. Sunday asking for help hosing down the street, according to Jay Apperson, spokesman for the department.

Apperson said the on-duty officer advised HCFR not to wash the manure into the storm drain, but to sand the streets and sweep up the waste.

The State Highway Administration arrived at about 11 a.m. with sand and street sweepers in a clean-up effort that took several hours. They finished at about 5 p.m., according to Charlie Gischlar, SHA spokesman.

Apperson said that the Department of the Environment found the truck that allegedly leaked the waste. It was carrying manure from J. W. Treuth & Sons at 328 Oella Avenue in Oella to farms where it would be used for fertilizer, he said.  

The truck has since been put out of service, according to Apperson. The department is investigating the incident as an “unauthorized leak,” which could carry a fine of up to $10,000 per day.

No charges have been filed, he said. The shop has been directed to submit a letter to the department detailing the incident and what steps the business has taken to prevent similar incidents from happening again. 

No one was available at Trueth & Sons for comment at the time of publication.