Evening star., 1953-02-06
Failure 10 Share
Pollution Guilt
Charged toD.C.
Shields Itself by
Blaming Virginia,
Long Tells Group

The District stood accused to.
day of shielding itself while
putting the blame on Virginia
communities for polluting the
Potomac River in the Metropol-
itan Area.
Raymond v. Long. former
chairman of the Interstate Com
mission on the Potomac River
Basin and director of the Vir-
ginia Planning and Economic
Development Commission, told
the Interstate Commission here
yesterday that Washington is
not doing its share to correct its
pollution load in the river.
Mr.. Longs statement followed
a report by special committee
to study conditions in the Metro
politan Area. The report con-
cluded the Potomac here is
getting worse. rather than i'm
proving.
washington" Mr.. Long said,
SIS not assuming its share Of the
responsibility of pollution abate-
ment in the Metropolitan Area.
All the while it is placing the
blame on Virginia communities
for not making more progress
toward pollution abatement.
81 do not mean to indicate
that Virginia should not reduce
its pollution, but I believe it Is
unfair for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Arlington and FairfaX-to have
to take all of the blame for
polluting the Potomac"
Lag in Facilities Seen.
The study committee. in a pre-
liminary report to the commits
sion, noted that. "in spite Of
recent additions to treatment
facilities the water quality of
the river in the Washington
Metropolitan Area has continued
to be degraded"
The committee said this would
indicate that the construction Of
pollution abatement facilities is
not being carried out at rapid
enough rate.
An engineer study of means Of
the best methods of sewage
treatment by Virginia communi-
ties pointed out last year that
Washington was responsible for
the greater part of the pollution
load in the river.
The committee recommended
that all Jurisdictions in the area
give careful study to the degree
Of treatment needed and advised
local planning agencies to give
careful consideration to the
practical degree to which pollu-
tion abatement may be accom-
plished when planning future
developments in the area.
Sees Shielding of d. C.
Mr.. Long said he is "tired Of
the onus always being placed on
Virginia" He said the District
has constantly been shielded. in
the press and elsewhere, for its
lack of adequate action in abat-
ing pollution
ut is shame" Mr.. Long said,
that the Nations Capital and
the capital of the world should
remain so backward in it's atti-
tude toward pollution abate-
ment."
It was pointed out that funds
for sanitary projects in the Dis
trict must come from Congress
and that the city's sanitary de-
partment has fought for years
for more adequate treatment
and sewer facilities.
Under present plans, If funds
are forthcoming, the District
should provide complete treat
ment of all sanitary wastes by
AOVUs ~ Wd0 CUdtCQ.
Cites Slash i'm Funds.
Ralph Thurman, superin-
tendent Of the District disposal
plant. said the Sanitation De-
partment had requested $40 mil
lion for sanitary works for the
next fiscal year. He said this
request was cut to So million
before being sent to Congress.
Mark D. Hollis. assistant sur.
geon general, said that, on a ma
tional scale, pollution abatement
progress had not kept pace with
needs. He said that World
War II, and later the Korean
war. have prevented the con-
struction of many abatement
projects.
John Nolen. jr., planning di-
rector of the National Capital
Planning Commission, said a
map is being prepared to show
existing sources of pollution In
the Washington area.
Mr.. Nolen said the map will
| 4