photo by Daniel Lobo / CC BY 2.0

Tell the EPA to keep stormwater out of DC's rivers!

What is the greatest threat polluting the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers? The answer may surprise you. It is not industrial waste or piles of trash.

It's stormwater runoff.

Unfortunately, this problem often goes unnoticed for the simple fact that we can't see it. During rain storms (or when our recent dumping of snow melts) water rushes off all of our paved surfaces taking all of the untreated oil, sediment, trash and other pollutants into our sewer system which empty directly into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.

Unlike the pollution that can more easily be controlled from a single source (waste discharged from an industrial building or construction site) stormwater management is more difficult to control and thus requires a comprehensive solution.

The problem in the District is that two-thirds of the existing pipe system combines sewage waste with rain water in the same pipe. When there is a heavy rainstorm these pipes are maxed out and what results is combined sewer overflow (CSO) or more simply, raw sewage and waste overflow untreated directly into the Anacostia River. Take action now: Ask EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to issue the strongest permit possible for DC.

Take Action: Tell your elected leaders that stormwater needs to be managed!

photo by Thirteen Of Clubs

One of the greatest threats to the quality of our drinking water and health of the Chesapeake Bay is stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff carries untreated debris, chemicals, sediment and other pollutants into our waterways. Unlike pollution that can be controlled at a single source, stormwater management requires a comprehensive solution.

Fortunately, new water management practices can reduce and even eliminate stormwater pollution, though these practices have associated costs. According to local governments, the backlog of  "green infrastructure" repairs caused by stormwater runoff exceeds $20 billion statewide. Stormwater-related damage to Maryland's waterways can only be reversed by establishing a dedicated funding source for this purpose. The Watershed Protection & Restoration act will do this. Take Action Now: Tell your elected leaders that stormwater needs to be managed.

In November 2008, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission voted to move forward on a comprehensive review of the potential impact of uranium mining in Virginia. Earlier last year, during the 2008 Virginia legislative session, the House Rules Committee killed an attempt to fund a related study. These efforts are widely viewed as initial steps towards lifting a ban on uranium mining in Virginia that has been in effect since 1982, after uranium was discovered in an area used for cattle, hay and timber.