BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that Sitaram
Hospitality, LLC (Sitaram) pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County to two
counts related to illicit discharges of sewage waste from a failed septic tank at a motel owned
and operated by the company located in Delmar, Maryland. The Honorable Judge Daniel Long,
retired, ordered the company to pay fines totaling $50,000, suspending all but $25,000 to be paid
to the Maryland Clean Water Fund, and five years probation.
On March 6, 2019, an inspector with the Wicomico County Health Department conducted an
unannounced site visit at Traveler’s Motel, located at 9461 Ocean Highway in
Delmar. Traveler’s Motel is a 13-unit motel owned and operated by Sitaram. During the
inspection, the inspector observed, photographed, and recorded a submersible pump discharging
untreated sewage from a damaged septic system directly onto the ground. Investigation revealed
the system failed in March of 2018 and that Sitaram was aware of the failed tank and initially
paid to have the sewage pumped and hauled. The frequency of pumping and hauling decreased
significantly in September 2018. Investigation also revealed that the company was aware of the
illegal pumps and hoses and illegal discharge of sewage by company employees. Since
discovery of the illegal discharging, the motel paid for and successfully completed connection to
the municipal sewer.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked Environmental Crimes Chief
Investigator Thomas Waugh and Assistant Attorney General Kory H. Lemmert for their work on
this case, in addition to the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Wicomico County
Health Department.
The Wicomoco County Health Department in their brightest hour! Knew about it in 2018, followed up a year later.
Heaven forbid if you’re waiting on a perc or approved replacement septic system.
5:55 You are so right, You can wait up to 2 years for a perk test or above ground system to be granted. You have to pay for perk tests eventho you know you are going to have to install an above ground system. It’s all about money! They take their good old time in getting to you “on the list”. It’s strange that the developers don’t have to go through that wait. They go in, put in a development and BAM, the houses are done and sold. But God help the little man.