District Of Columbia Sues Federal Government Over Anacostia Pollution

A bicyclist rides along a shoreline paved trail on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at Anacostia Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, File)

The District of Columbia has taken legal action against the federal government, filing a lawsuit over pollution in the Anacostia River. The lawsuit claims that the federal government, which has owned and controlled the riverbed since the 1800s, has caused significant harm to the predominantly poor and minority communities living along the urban waterway.

Over the years, the federal government has been accused of dumping toxic waste, heavy metals, and chemicals, including carcinogenic PCBs, into the river and failing to address the contamination. The Anacostia River, which flows through Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland, has suffered from industrial waste, storm sewer runoff, and trash disposal, disproportionately affecting communities of color.

The lawsuit specifically points to the dumping of PCBs from the Washington Navy Yard, hazardous chemicals from the Kenilworth Landfill, and chemical waste from federal printing facilities as contributing to the pollution. Additionally, poor management of the District of Columbia's sewer system has led to the discharge of raw sewage and toxic waste into the river.

Pollution disproportionately affects poor and minority communities along the river.

The federal government is accused of polluting the Anacostia River.

Dumping of toxic waste, heavy metals, and chemicals has occurred over the years.

Specific sources of pollution include the Washington Navy Yard and federal printing facilities.

The legal action alleges that the federal government has been the primary polluter of the Anacostia River, causing swimming bans and fishing warnings due to the presence of hazardous substances. The lawsuit emphasizes the long-lasting environmental and health impacts of the pollution, including risks to aquatic wildlife and human health.

While the District of Columbia has made progress in cleaning up the river, including a significant sewer upgrade and agreements with utilities to address pollution, the Anacostia River continues to face challenges. Efforts to restore the river's health and wildlife are ongoing, with the city demanding that the federal government take responsibility for funding the cleanup.

Despite recent improvements, the Anacostia River received a failing grade in 2023 based on its fecal bacteria content and the condition of its aquatic vegetation. The legal action by the District of Columbia underscores the importance of holding the federal government accountable for its role in the pollution of this vital waterway.