Evening star., 1938-10-21
.ANTEP0[LUT|0N
PROGRAM PUSHED
|NPOTOMAC AREA
Pacts by D. c. and 4 States
Aim of New Conservancy
Organization.
PACTS MAY BE READY
IN NEXT FEW MONTHS
1ndustrialists to Aid in War on
Waste in Streams in River
Basin of Section.

VI AlOuIdl was OClllS AduiiSllCo Codd
with its first aim interstate pacts be-
tween the District of Columbia. Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania.
The plan, which requires approval
by the District Commissioners and the
Legislatures Of the four States before
it can be submitted to Congress, was
adopted yesterday afternoon by the
Executive Committee of the Potomac
Valley Pollution Conference.
M. o. Leighton, consulting engineer
OF the Washington Board Of Trade
drew up the plan. the carrying out OF
which was entrusted today to COM
mittee consisting Of c. F. Browning
public health engineer Of the District
of Columbia; DR.. r. H. Riley, director
Of the Maryland State Department Of
Health, and I. M. Glace, consulting
engineer Of the National Resources
Committee.
Sponsored by the Washington Board
OF Trade, the Potomac Valley Pollution
Conference was initiated some months
ago in response to recommendations OF
the National Resources Committee
which proposed the creation of con-
servancy district in the Potomac Basin
for the abatement of stream pollution
and industrial waste. Industrialists
in the four neighboring States are
cooperating with the movement. as q
great deal of the pollution in the Poto-
mac is caused by mine waste in Wes,
Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Early Agreement Seen.
Mr.. Browning said today he believed
a tentative plan for interstate actor
could be drawn up and agreed upor
in two or three months. Such plan
he explained, would serve as stop.
gap until final legislative and congress
sional authority is obtained. 1t woulc
be impossible, however, to expend State
funds or exercise police powers under
the tentative agreements.
The Virginia Legislature, for in.
stance. does not convene until Janu'
AIRY in 1910, and some of the othel
Legislatures will not meet for another
year. For this reason, it was proposed
to use the authority of the State com.
missions to undertake an initial stud,
and working out Of plans until tn,
whole scheme can be presented fol
formal ratification.
In a resolution adopted at yester
| days conference meeting in the Boare
of Trade rooms, the proposed pact be-
tween the District and the four State
within the Potomac Basin was ap
proved as the most feasible and ex
pedient" method of attacking pollution
| problems.
The conference suggested that it
officers and Executive Committee rec
ommend and endeavor to provide /,
suggested commission of three mem
bers, to be appointed by the Presi
dent, be placed in authority owe
the activities of the conservancy dis
trict.
A section of the plan provides tina
funds for the administration of tn,
area shall be obtained through appro
priations from the States and the Dis
trict of Columbia in the amounts rec
commended by the conservancy distric
on proportionate basis. 1t was pro
posed, however, to place a S30,00(
limitation on the total of funds mad.
available.
Duties of Commission.
The powers and duties of the Con
servancy Commission would be: tt
collect and summarize all technica
data on the pollution of the stream
of the conseryancy district and to pre-
pare annual reports on conditions.
To obtain adequate information OF
the character and condition of sucf
streams as they now exist or, may b,
affected by the future discharge O
waste matter.
To cooperate with the Legislature
OF the signatory bodies and other in
terested commissions within or with
out the district for the purpose O
promoting uniform laws and regula
tions- for the abatement and contro
of stream pollution.
To disseminate public information
on the harmful and uneconomical re-
suits Of pollution and the aims of tn,
Conservancy Commission.
To institute and conduct research
and fact-finding activities in co-opera.
ton with other organizations lookins
to the establishment of sewage treat.
ment plants and control of industria
wastes in the various communitie.
which do not have such facilities
To adopt reasonable minimum stand.
ards for the treatment of all sewap,
and industrial waste discharged intt
the streams of the district.
The members of the Executive Com.
mittee Of the Potomac Valley Pollution
Conference are Dr. Riley, chairman
Mr.. Browning, secretary; Gardiner L
Boothe of Alexandria, Va; A, w
Frame of Waynesboro, Va; Wendal
B. Goode of Winchester, Va; J. B
Gordon. director of sanitary engineer.
Ing for the District of Columbia
George L. Hall, acting chief engineer
Of the Maryland Department O,
Health; Ashton c. Jones of Claren.
don, Va; Thomas w. Koon, Mayor O,
Cumberland, Md; M. O. Leighton
consulting engineer of the Washington
Board of Trade: Abner L. Roe O.
Washington, DR.. Edith Mcbride.
Dexter, secretary of the health de.
partment, Harrisburg, Pa; DR.. Arthur
K. McClue, State health commissioner
Of West Virginia; H. E. Moses, chie1
engineer of the Pennsylvania Depart.
ment of Health; DR.. I. c. Riggin, com.
missioner of health Of Virginia; DR.
George c. Rutland, District Of Colum.
bia health officer; F. T. Small o1
Cumberland, Md; e. 8. Tisdale, CHIEF
sanitary engineer Of the West Virgins
Department Of Health. and Morton
Wallerstein, chairman Of the Virginia
State Planning Commission.