Sara Michael, The Examiner
2007-08-28 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Ellicott City -

Howard County has moved forward on legislation to require testing on former golf courses, even as Turf Valley landowners say they are taking steps to clean up the contaminated land.

The landowners have “started the Voluntary Clean Up Program process,” said Louis Mangione of Mangione Family Enterprises, which owns Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.

Mangione said the company was in the “pre-application” period to participate in the state’s voluntary program, adding he didn’t “understand why [the legislation] has been filed.”

Under a measure to be introduced at the County Council’s Sept. 4 legislative session, developers would have to conduct soil and water tests before building. The site must be tested before receiving development plan approval and it would affect plans filed on or after Dec. 15, according to the legislation.

The measure comes weeks after county officials discovered tests in 2005 that found high levels of arsenic in areas of Turf Valley.

In an Aug. 1 letter to Mangione, Howard County Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson requested that landowners apply for the cleanup program, adding he would seek legislation “requiring testing to the extent permitted by state law.”

Elevated levels of arsenic were found near the maintenance shed, where fertilizers were stored. This area would be cleaned up as part of the program, Mangione said.

“Turf Valley is far cleaner than anybody realizes,” he said. “There is one spot that is what they call a ‘hot spot.’ It’s easily remedied.”

On the state level, legislation requiring developers to conduct a comprehensive assessment of golf course land has failed two years in a row.

The measure received no support from counties or the state Department of the Environment and Turf Valley owners opposed the move, said state Del. Liz Bobo, D-District 12B, a co-sponsor of the state measure.

“I think it’s good to do it on a county level,” said Bobo, adding that if it passes in Howard, she plans to try again on the state level.

“I hope the county will come down and publicly support it this year.”

Beilenson could not be reached for comment.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com