BALTIMORE – A Maryland tanker truck driver, Larry A. Gross, is facing four criminal charges after allegedly discharging thousands of gallons of diesel fuel across multiple locations in Anne Arundel County. The illegal fuel spills reportedly caused significant environmental damage, with cleanup costs exceeding $399,000.
Gross, the principal operator of H&M Truckin, LLC, allegedly began his fuel route on October 3, 2023, loading over 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel at the Motiva Fuel Terminal in Baltimore. After delivering part of the load to a Quarles Gas Station in Howard County, authorities say Gross unlawfully discharged the remaining 5,342 gallons in three separate locations.
According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, surveillance footage and dash camera video revealed Gross parked his truck along Digiulian Boulevard and Route 10, where he discharged fuel directly into storm drains. One significant spill near Thurgood Marshall BWI Airport caused diesel to flow into a sediment pond, impacting local water systems.
Subsequent inspections uncovered additional discharges along Route 10, with one site releasing over 4,300 gallons of diesel into drainage ditches and stormwater systems. Soil samples confirmed the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons, further implicating Gross in environmental violations.
Claims of Mechanical Failure Gross initially claimed the spills were accidental, blaming a leak in the truck’s equipment. However, inspections by the Maryland Department of the Environment found no evidence of defective equipment, contradicting his account.
Gross has been charged with multiple misdemeanors, including two counts of discharging oil and two counts of discharging pollutants, each carrying potential fines of $25,000 to $50,000 and up to one year in prison per count.
In Maryland, stringent environmental laws regulate hazardous materials and oil transport. Diesel fuel spills not only harm local ecosystems but also jeopardize public health when pollutants seep into water supplies. The cleanup efforts, led by Petroleum Management Inc., are expected to cost over $400,000.
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