Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-16
Attack on Pollution
Proposed for Entire
Potomac River Basin

"A proposal 10 QFaIC q compre-
hensive anti-pollution plan and
program for the Potomac River
Basin was presented today to the
annual meeting of the Inter-
State Commission on the Poto-
mac River Basin at the Wash
ington Hotel.
The proposal was in a report
by Commissioner L. M. Fisher,
acting director. The meeting
possibly will take a stand on it
tomorrow.
The business session of the
two-day 18th annual meeting is
scheduled for tomorrow morn
ing.
Discussion of the proposal to-
day brought out no direct OPP
position from representatives of
the water pollution control reg
ulatory authorities of States in
the basin. Sylvan c. Martin of
the water pollution control pro-
gram of the United States Pub
lie Health Service Endorsed the
idea and offered his agency's
help in drawing up a con1pre-
hensive plan.
Mr.. Fisher explained that all
the commission could do would
be to take the leadership in rec
ommending something that
could be done. Authority for en-
forcement would continue to rest
with the States.
Area Represented.
The commission includes men,
bers from the District, Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and the Federal
Government.
The idea of a comprehensive
plan has been discussed fire.
Quently. Mr.. Fisher listed the
following among the advantages:
/. It would speed up the Clean
up program.
2. Objections of river polluters
to doing anything until other
polluters clean up would be re-
moved since all pollution would
be dealt with by a certain date.
8. 1t would deprive polluters
in one jurisdiction from arguing
that more is required of them
than those in another jurisdic-
ton.
List Same Standards.
4. 1t would facilitate the elm
mating of pollution because each
State would enforce the same
standards.
S. It would give hope to the
advocates of clean streams for
eventual improvement and en-
courage them to keep up their
efforts.
6. All polluters would have in
formation as to what was re-
quired.
7. The people would have an
opportunity to decide whether
or not they wanted such a plan
8. Determination would have
to be made on a basis of the
best water use when all waters
uses were considered.
Disadvantage Cited.
Mr.. Fisher acknowledged these
disadvantages:
l. 1t would be difficult to state
precise requirements which al
polluters must meet and which
would be fair.
2. Industrial polluters might
argue they were required to meet
more severe rules than theil
competitors in another river
basin.
8. A State might find it diff.
cult to enforce more rigid stand.
ards in one river basin in the
State than in another.
Mr.. Fisher noted that there
would be large volume of worl
in formulating a plan.
Seeks Minimum Standards.
Today's gathering was not il
q position to argue details of any
plan, Mr.. Fisher pointed out. Blu
he suggested that progress nigh
be made at this time by agreeins
to some minimum standards
These. he said, might include:
There should be no sluge de-
posits. No floating matter shoult
be discharged from sewer out.
let's. Discharges should not b.
a nuisance either to the sens,
of sight or smell. Discharge
should contain no matter toxi'
to aquatic life.
Should there be favorable
decision for drawing UP a COM
prehensive plan. Mr.. Fisher sug.
gested that the commission staff
with the assistance of the group
represented at the meeting
might come back next year will
a recommendation to be followed
throughout the district.