County to Decide on Landfill Extension

Anne Arundel County officials will decide in the next 30 days whether to grant a time extension for a proposed rubble landfill to the south of Piney Orchard.

The Capital reported that more than 50 people from Odenton and nearby communities appeared at a hearing Thursday to oppose James Cunningham’s effort to ask for more time to get final approval for the project through the county's office of planning and zoning.

Cunningham, who owns the property near the end of Capitol Raceway Road near the borders of Odenton, Crofton and Gambrills, first sought approval for the rubble operation in 1993. Since then, the project has been caught up in litigation and delays in getting approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

Cunningham has been granted several extensions, most recently in 2010.

According to The Capital, residents told county officials that Cunningham has had plenty of time to get the landfill approved. But an attorney for Cunningham said his client has followed proper procedures.

MDE granted tentative approval for the new landfill last year. It is currently reviewing thousands of letters from

The landfill would be operated by Tolson and Associates, a company that includes some of Cunningham's colleagues and family members. Cunningham would serve as the landlord.

Cunningham sought approval to build the landfill himself in the 1990s, but was rejected due to environmental concerns related to a previous landfill on the site.