Evening star., 1946-12-14
Commission Pledged
Ito Co-ordinaied Plan
On Basin Pollution
BY james BirchfieId
Sior stuff Correspondent

1 by james blrcnflelo
| Stor Stuff Correspondent
WINCHESTER, Va. Dec. 1.-THE
Interstate Commission on the Po-
tofnac River Basin was pledged to-
day to promote q well-co-ordinated
plan Of pollution abatement, for the
Potomac and its tributaries.
Ending It's two-day winter meeting
here yesterday, the commission
listed 10 priority projects which, ac-
cording To the commissions advisory
technical committee, constitute q
proper sequence Of pollution abate-
ment projects" in the order Of their
importance in cleaning up the basin.
Pointing out that the Luke Cum
berlaad area is at present the
| greatest offender, the technical
COMMITTEES said the early completion
of the Savage River Dam is OF pri-
mary Importance in cleaning up
the pollution in this section.
To Increase Branch Flow.
The committee said the completion
OF the dam will increase the flow
of the North Branch Of the Poto-
mac from 80 second feet to about
100 second feet. This means, in lay
man language, that the flow of the
North Branch would be increased
from about 21,600,000 gallons per
day to about 72,000, 900 gallons per
day. This constant flow would do
much to relieve the pollution prob
lem.
THE completion of the Savage
River Dam" the committee said,
will assist in reducing serious pol
luton in the Cumberland area, but
| it will not be a cure-all. A num-
ber of problems will remain to be
corrected before the most beneficial
results are obtained. 1t is consid-
cred, however, that this area is the
Number priority for concerted
commission action"
Construction of the dam, now
about 10 per cent complete was
authorized this year by Congress.
It was urged that "every effort" be
made to assure appropriations by
the next Congress for, completing
the project.
Other Facilities Sought.
In addition to the Savage River
Dam, the committee urged that the
commission assist in securing sew
age treatment facilities at Cumber-
land, RidgIey, Keyser, Piedmont,
Westernport and Luke; assist in inn
proving treatment facilities and i'm
prove operating procedures where
necessary at industries discharging
wastes in the streams; to investi-
gate the possibilities Of securing adj
ditional water flow control reser-
voirs in the upper basin, and to seek
means of reducing the acid mine
drainage discharges into the
streams.
The commission was urged to aid
III the formation of sanitary dis
trict to provide the necessary sew
ers and treatment facilities for this
Georges Creek area in the upper
basin and to lend its assistance to
Winchester and Martinsburg, w.
Va, in the construction of treat
ment facilities for wastes now en-
tering Opequon Greek. The COM
mission, it was said, should co-op-
crate in any way possible with the
newly formed Virginia Water Con-
troll Board and the West Virginia
pollution control agency.
Bonds to Aid Work.
The construction of adequate
treatment facilities at Winchester
has been assured by a recent bond
issue, it was said, while Martins
burg is, now preparing to hold a
bond election for sewage treatment
facilities.
In the Waynesbcro. Va, area the
commission was urged to assist in
bringing about the construction of
sewage and industrial waste treat
ment facilities.
Placing the Washington area last
on the priority list, the committee
called for assistance to Alexandria
and Fairfax County in the construc-
ton of sewage treatment plants and
to Arlington County in planning en-
largements to present plants. Plans
for the three projects now are under
way.
It was pointed out that plans for
increasing treatment facilities in the
District are about 95 per cent COM
pleted.,
Calls for Sampling Stations.
Asserting that it is necessary
for the commission at all times to
have definite knowledge of the
degree of pollution in all sections
of the basin in order to plan we'll
rounded abatement program, the
committee called for immediate
plans to establish water sampling
stations throughout the basin.
The commission, the committee
said, should induce its member
States to extend water sampling
station installations, to relocate or
reactivate previous stations and to
increase the frequency Of sampling
for physical, chemical and bacteri-i
illogical analysis. Similar samplingI
procedures should also be adopted
by each State, it was said.
In move to assist industries in
solving their pollution problems, the
commission will establish library
at the Washington headquarters
that will include complete list OF
all industries in the basin with a
description of their wastes and
treatment facilities, a list of re-
search facilities in and near the
basin where industries can receive
assistance in treatment problems,
and a photography Of works on
sewage and industrial waste treat
ments.
Seeks Further U. S. Aid.
Advised by the director of the
Budget Bureau that the President
will not recommend Federal appro-
priation for the Commission for the
1948 budget, the commission in
structed it's executive committee to
make further efforts to secure Fed
eral assistance. Last year the budget
provided $4,000 for the commits
sion.
Taking steps to make the residents