Evening star., 1946-08-09
Potomac Basin Group
Sets Up Research Unit
On Waste Disposal
By jones BirchfieId
Stor Sfoff Ccrrespondent

Slht SlS'i SS'iesHO'dshi
CAMP RITCHIE, Md, Aug. "a
plan to collect information on scien-
tific waste disposal research now
being conducted by universities and
private industries, for dissemination
to other industries and municipal
tiles, was outlined here today by the
Interstate Commission on the Poto-
mac River Basin.
Under the plan, a three man re-
search committee will collect scien-
tific data on sewage and industrial
waste treatment and will serve as a
clearing house, passing ideas on
waste treatment on to industrial
and municipal groups E. r. Cotton,
the commissions engineer secretary
and a member of the Research Com
mittee, explained that a scientific
process developed by one industry
in treating its waste material often
may prove beneficial to another un-
related industry. AS an example, he
said, it was found by one paper in
dustry in the basin that a certain
bacteria could be made immune to
acids and thus could be used in the
treatment of that industry's waste
materials. Another unrelated in
dustry, hearing of this, was able also
to adjust similar bacteria for use
in the treatment of its waste matter
Allegany County Plans Action.
Other members of the Research
Committee are E. T. Roetman OF
the American Viscose Corp, Phila-
delphia, and Kenneth Watson of the
West Virginia Board of Sanitation
The commission also was told today
that definite steps are being planned
by Allegany County, Md, for the
abatement of pollution in the
Georges Creek section of the Luke
Cumberland area.
l.. G. MacMurray, assistant sani-
tary engineer of the Maryland State
Health Department, reported that a
mass meeting Of Allegany residents
will be called early this fall to form
sanitary district in the Georges
Creek section. This district, which
would be similar to the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission In
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties, would be created early
next year by the Maryland Legisla
ture. Mr.. MacMurray said the dis
trict would develop disposal treat
ment plants for both municipalities
and industries in the area, ano
would facilitate to a great degree
pollution abatement in the Cum
berland area. This area is consio-
cred one of the sore spots" in
the entire basin.
States Urged to Act.
| Meanwhile, Maryland State Sena-
tor Harold Sothoron, who was re-
elected chairman of the commission
yesterday called on the State men,
bers OF Virginia, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and Maryland, the District
OF Columbia and the Federal Gov
ernment to take immediate action
in putting into practice the pollu-
ton abatement program formulated
by the commission. This would in
clude steps to meet the water purity
standards for the basin set up by
the commission and accepted by the
member States.
Senator Sothoron also urged State
members to cooperate with the
commissions Technical Committee
through the exchange of data on
pollution. He told commission
members the organization must do
more toward educating basin resi-
dents concerning the necessity for
pollution abatement. In addition
to Senator Sothoron, other officers
reelected include Raymond v
Long, chairman of the Virginia
State Planning Board, vice chair
man; DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger. as