Evening star., 1951-09-08
Mine Drainage
|nPotomac Nav
Yield Sulphur
Busin Commission to
Sponsor TwofoId
Research Project
By james BirchfieId
Star Staff Correspondent

Commission on the Potomac River
Basin.
Commission Director Edwin r.
Cotton said the research project,
to be sponsored by the commits
sion at Johns Hopkins University
into the problems of acid mine
drainage, may discover methods
of salvaging sulphur or sulphuric
acid.
Mr.. Cotton told commission
members, at the closing session Of
the groups 10th anniversary
meeting here yesterday, that both
sulphur and sulphuric acid are
now in great demand. He added
that process to recover the sui
phur from mine waters would be
of economic Importance in the
Potomac Basin.
1t has been estimated that hun
dreds Of tons of sulphuric acid
drain from abandoned coal mines
into the headWater streams of
the Potomac River each day.
These acid waters not only de-
stroy stream life, but cause ex-
tensive damage to water installa-
tions down stream.
S6 Tons a Day.
From the abandoned mine at
kempton, Md, alone, it is esti-
mated, as much as SO tons of sui
phuric acid flows daily into Laurel
Branch, one of the headwater
streams. Trout have been killed:
and even beavers, which once in
habited the lower section, have
moved above the abandoned mine.
The commission elected Harry
Gard Knox. technical adviser to
the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water
Board, as chairman to succeed
Harold A. Kemp. District director
OF sanitary engineering. The group
also received recommendations
that it's field of activities be
broadened and that it 60 on rec
ord as favoring national water
policy that would emphasize local
participation in basin planning.
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger, District
health director and chairman of
the commissions land committee,
suggested that the commission
broaden its scope to include the
entire field of basin planning and
development.
DR.. Seckinger asserted that the
field of water resources alone is
too Small-that all phases of de-
velopment and planning relating
to the basin and its people be
considered by the commission.
Interstate Compacts.
After a study of recommended
tions in the recent report of the
Presidents Water Resources Policy
Commission, the commission
technical committee proposed that
any national water policy should
contain, as a fundamental state
ment, a declaration to the effect
that the comprehensive Develop
ment Of water and related re-
sources be carried out by inter-
state compact agencies.
The committee further proposed
that drainage areas include whole
basins of sufficient size to permit
integration of all major factors
affecting the resources of the area.
The suggestion also provided
that the Federal Government have
representation in basin agencies
only in proportion to it's interests,
that it bear its proportionate share
OF expenses and that agency off,
GERS be elected by its members.
In its report. the Presidents
commission recommended the
formation of a national review
board to carry out definite ma
tional water policy and that agen-
cies be created in each of the
major river basins to plan and
develop the basin resources. These
agencies would be headed by in
dependent chairmen appointed by
the President and would consist
OF members representing the va
rious State and Federal agencies
involved.
Would Curb Encroachment.
The technical committees sug-
geStions are designed to forestall
further Federal encroachment in
the development of water re-
sources within States and are.
based on the commissions policy
that interstate compacts form the
most democratic means of devel-
oping drainage areas.
Mr.. Kemp, who retires after
serving two years as commission
chairman. reported that the Po-
tomac River in the WASHINGTON
area became septic during this
summers dry period.
He said fish were reported killed
in the Alexandria area and that
samples disclosed a complete lack
OF oxygen in the Anacostia River
and as little as two parts per
million of oxygen in the Potomac.
Fish require a minimum of
three parts per million of oxygen,
he said, while for spawning, game
fish require as much as five parts
per million.
Serving with Mr.. Knox as vice
chairman will be George F.
Hazelwood, Cumberland contrac-
tor. officers reelected are DR..
Seckinger. treasurer, and Oliver
GaSch, assistant District corpor-
alton counsel, who will serve as
counsel.
State Senator John r. Fletcher
OF Prince Georges County was
recognized as a new member of
the commission from Maryland
Senator Fletcher replaces former
State Senator l.. Harold Sothoron
whom he defeated in last years
elections.
The commissions winter meet
ing will be held on January 10 and
II in Washington.
v
<II . NAI