Evening star., 1948-04-12
Potomac Group
Will See Mines
Pollution Control
Inspection Is Planned
In Pennsylvania by
Interstate Commission

How Pennsylvania prevents coal
mining operations from polluting
her streams will be shown members
of the Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin this week
during a two-day inspection tour
Of the States anthracite area.
The inspection tour will be held
Friday and Saturday. prior to the
commissions spring meeting, next
Monday and Tuesday at Harris
burg, Pa. During the tour, particu-
lar attention will be given to new
waste treatment works recently in
stalled by the anthracite industry
The two-day meeting at Harris
burg is expected to include ad-
dresses by Gov. Duff of Pennsyl-
vania and Mark Hollis, director
Of the sanitary engineering division
Ct the Public Health Service. Mr..
Hollis is expected to outline plans
of the service for sanitary engi-
neering improvements.
Fisher Is Appointed.
Meanwhile, announcement was
made here this week Of the ap-
pointment by President Truman of
L. M. Fisher, senior sanitary engi-
neer OF the Public Health Service,
to the commission as representative
of the Federal Government. He
succeeds Ralph B. Tarbett, who
died recently. Mr.. Fisher is expect
ed to attend the Harrisburg meet
ing Of the commission.
An important phase OF the Har-
risourg gathering will be a discus
sion by the commissions Local
Governments Committee on meth
DDS of financing the construction Of
needed sewage treatment facilities.
1t has been pointed out py cfh-
cials of local governments that in
many instances, waste treatment
facilities have been held back by
insufficient funds. Because of linn
its on bonded Indebtedness, it has
been stated, many communities find
they are unable to construct the
needed treatment plants, or to en-
large present facilities.
Land-Use Group Planned.
The meeting also is expected to
accomplish the final organization OF
a commission Land Use Committee.
DR.. Danield L. Seckinger, District
hospital co-ordinator and a COM
mission member representing Wash
ington, has urged that more consid-
Grafton be given to soil as pollut-
ing agent.
He also has called for research
and investigation into the possible
relationship between soil and health.
He has held that land use and de-
velopment is related to water pollu-
ton.
The new committee is expected
to include representatives of State
and Federal agricultural agencies.
Continuing practice started
last year. when the commission
first brought together representa-
tives of the Maryland and West
Virginia pollution control agencies
to discuss mutual problems on the
upper Potomac, a joint meeting of
the commission and representatives
of pollution agencies in member |
states has been scheduled with the
Pennsylvania Sanitary Water |
Board.
d. C. Area Problems Included.
Through these informal talks, it
is believed the solution of common
pollution problems can be speeded.
Although the meeting this spring
is in the upper Potomac watershed,
problems affecting the Washington
area will not be overlooked. To be
considered by the executive COM
mittee will be a discussion of q
program to abate pollution now
entering the Potomac from the Vir-
ginia communities of Arlington
and Alexandria.
Other business will include dis
cussions Of the Savage River Dam
appropriation, research program
for the upper Potomac, co-ordinat-
ing States and industry in a re-
search program, and reports by
various commission committees.