Evening star., 1952-01-11
Continued D. {.
Anti-PoIIutiion 'l
Work Assured
Kemp Cites New
Facilities at Meeting
Of Interstate Body
By jones BirchfieId

s"ASsSe~aS NV0y
By jones BirehfieId
The Interstate Commission OF
the Potomac River Basin had thu
Assurance today that the Distric
will continue to assume its share
Of pollution abatement work il
the Metropolitan Area.
Harold A. Kemp, District direc.
tor Of sanitary engineering and 6
former commission chairman, tolo
commission members last night
at the winter meeting of the groul
in the Hotel Statler, that the Dis
trict now is constructing addition:
to its sewage disposal plant al
Blue Plains at cost of $2,650, 900
and that further construction, te
cost $9.5 million has been au-
thorized.
Mr.. Kemp was given an award
by the commission for his work
As chairman.
"The steps already taken by the
District to abate pollution are
proof that the District is cognizant
Of its responsibilities, and the
plans for the future prove that it
will continue to assume its share, u
Mr.. Kemp said.
Its present plant is now valued
at more than $13 million. We are
now constructing sludge drying
incinerating and chlorinating IA
cilities at a cost of $3.50, ,000," he
said.
Completion in 1860.
Furthermore, the District Com
missioners have authorized the
construction of a high-rate acti-
waited sludge plant at an esti-
mated cost Of sos million, and it
is hoped that construction of this
secondary plant to render ade-
quate treatment will start this
year. ~.
II fully expect that the new
plant will go into partial opera
ton by 1856 and, when completed
in 1860, will be valued at more
than $25 million"
The new District treatment IA
eilities should reduce pollution
problems in the Washington area.
Discussing the problems of de-
veloping a national water policy,
Melvin E. Scheidt, fiscal economist
with the Budget Bureau, urged the
commission to give serious con-
sideration to it's relation to a broad
policy Of water resources develop
ment.
Outlining the report Of the re-
cent Presidents Water Resources
Policy Commission, Mr.. Scheidt
said the bureau is now preparing
legislation setting up a national
water policy.
Halls Cooperation.
Mr.. Scheidt said there has been
an amazing spirit of cooperation
among conflicting Government
agencies in reaching agreement
on an overall water policy. He
predicted that the first draft Of
proposed legislation will be COM
pleted within the next month.
He urged the commission to
consider how best a water re-
sources development agency could
be set up in the Potomac Basin,
pointing out that all interests of
all communities should be con-
Sidered.
The commission now is consid-
ering broadening it's powers so
1t would be in a position to be-
come the planning and Develop
ing agency under legislation that
may follow recommendations of
the Presidents commission.
In closed sessions yesterday, the
commission voted to appoint a
five-man committee to study the
development of the Maryland
shore of the Potomac between
Washington and Cumberland.
Data Needed for Parkway.
The action followed recon-
inendations by two advisory COM
infttees that additional facts are
needed before a decision can be
made on the proposed Chesapeake
d Ohio Canal parkway.
The commission also instructed
It's Technical Committee to pre-
pare q comprehensive plan for
pollution abatement on a BASIN
wide scale.
Under the national anti-pollu-
ton law, the United States Pub
lie Health Service is required to
prepare or accept from interstate
or State agencies such compre-
hensive plans for all river basins.
The plan, it was explained.
should describe the areas and
types of pollution and the uses
to which water is to be put in
the various areas and should pro-
vide q working plan for pollution
abatement on priority basis.
The commission plan, if ap-
proved by member States, could
serve as a national model.
The sessions will end this after
noon with o meeting Of the full
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