Plan Envisions Swimmable, Fishable Anacostia River

WASHINGTON, DC -- The District Department of Energy and Environment released the Proposed Plan for the Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP) on Friday, Dec. 27, just ahead of its Dec. 31 deadline. The aim of the project is to make the Anacostia River fishable and swimmable, according to the ARSP's website.

The watershed of the Anacostia River encompasses 176 miles in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland. More than 800,000 people live within the watershed, which is also home to 43 species of fish and about 200 species of birds.

The purpose of the ASRP is to manage the sediment on the bottom of the river and remove contaminants, in particular concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

According to the ARSP website, consuming river water itself is not harmful to humans. But humans are at a greater health risk if they come in contact with river sediment or consume the flesh of fish caught in the river. The project will not affect drinking water, as D.C.'s drinking water is drawn from the Potomac River.

Work on the ASRP is scheduled to start in 2020 and continue for several years. The D.C. government is funding the project through a combination of government funds and payments from "potentially responsible parties," according to the website. D.C. is currently involved in a complex legal process to determine who is responsible for the contamination.

DDEE is conducting a 30-day public input period from Dec.27-Jan. 26 on the proposed plan, which will impact 11 Early Action Areas located within three bodies of water — Main Stem, Kingman Lake, and Washington Channel. View the document library.

Members of the public can submit their input at one of the four community meetings or by mail or email to: Dev Murali, Remedial Project Manager, 1200 First Street, NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002 or anacostiariversedimentproject@dc.gov.

DDEE will hold four public information meetings about the project beginning on Jan. 23. Members of the public must register in advance in order to attend these meetings. DDEE will review and consider all comments submitted by the public before it finalizes its Interim Record of Decision.

The public can learn more about the project or submit feedback at four community meetings:

Community Meeting #1: This meeting will discuss the Proposed Plan and process leading up to a Record of Decision. Thursday, Jan. 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Department of Employment Services, Community Room #1, 4058 Minnesota Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20019. Reserve a ticket.

Community Meeting #2: This meeting will focus on early cleanup actions in the main stem of the Anacostia River. Monday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at DCHR Headquarters, Floor 9, 1015 Half St. S.E., Washington, DC 20003. Reserve a ticket.

Community Meeting #3: This meeting will focus on early cleanup actions in Kingman Lake. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 7-8:30 p.m., at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20003. Reserve a ticket.

Community Meeting #4: This meeting will focus on early cleanup actions in the Washington Channel. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at Wharf Dockmaster Building, 101 District Square, S.W., Washington, DC 20024. Reserve a ticket.