Days Cove Task Force – Updates

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The Days Cove Task Force, made up of representatives from Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER®, Mad About Mud, and Sierra Club’s Greater Baltimore Group, meets twice a month to inform the state’s decision-making process for the Days Cove Rubble Landfill discharge permit and lease.

February 12, 2026

Community efforts have resulted in Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Park Service, and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) meeting regularly with community stakeholders, as directed by the Board of Public Works for “coordination and dialog” around the closing of Days Cove Rubble Landfill.

Together, to date, we have:

  • Motivated 200+ citizens to attend the 9/16/2025 MDE discharge permit hearing. 700+ comments were submitted to MDE within the extended comment period that was requested and granted at the hearing.
  • Engaged the County Councils of Baltimore (pop 856,174) and Harford (pop 266,257), representing both shores of the Bird and Gunpowder Rivers, to pass resolutions against the proposed discharge permit and asking for the earliest closure possible.
  • Generated 200+ comments and 35 pages of emails in < 12 hours on the 12/17/2025 Board of Public Works agenda item of the proposed DNR lease of 5 years with the current Rubble Landfill operator. Due to our efforts, the agenda item was postponed for negotiations.
  • On top of over 1200 petition signers of  Mad About Mud to highlight the problem of mud pollution in Foster Branch, a key tributary of the Bird and Gunpowder Rivers.

We channeled energy from these actions to our meetings with state officials.

  • DNR hosted leadership of our groups for an open dialog with DNR, State Park and MDE leadership with the intent of negotiating concerns over the current short lease period which ends May 29, 2026.
  • After introductions, we presented our major concerns setting the stage for detailed negotiations over the coming months.
    • Escrow ownership and control
    • Lease and closure timelines and plans
    • Permits and independent monitoring
    • Alternate waste options
    • Rubble recycling leadership
  • Discussion of each topic informed where opportunities and challenges would be addressed in future meetings. Bi-weekly meetings are occurring.
  • Representatives from our community and environment groups are meeting frequently to prepare and plan next steps and actions.

Want a deeper dive? You can catch up on our Press Coverage to Date: