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Washington Gas Ordered to Contain Ongoing Pollution of Anacostia River

September 23, 2025

Washington Gas has reached a settlement with the District of Columbia to address ongoing pollution from its former East Station plant that continues to contaminate the Anacostia River. For decades after the plant's closure in the mid-1980s, hazardous chemicals have been actively seeping into the waterway, with investigators documenting near-daily oil sheens and chemical vapors bubbling from the riverbed since 2021. Under the agreement announced by Attorney General Brian L.

Who is affected

  • District residents living along the Anacostia River's banks
  • Communities that live, work, and recreate along the river
  • Eastern Power Boat Club and District Yacht Club (adjacent boat clubs)
  • Fish and wildlife in the Anacostia ecosystem (implied by the contamination)
  • Washington Gas (now a subsidiary of Alta Gas Ltd.)

What action is being taken

  • Washington Gas is installing a containment boom on the river's surface by late 2025 or early 2026
  • The company is placing reactive mats on the riverbed and building a permeable barrier along the shoreline by 2027
  • Washington Gas must provide monthly monitoring reports to the District
  • The District is imposing steep daily penalties if the company fails to comply
  • The Department of Energy and Environment and Office of the Attorney General are monitoring oil sheens and chemical vapors

Why it matters

  • The pollution threatens the health and safety of communities living along the river's banks
  • Toxic contamination has forced swimming bans and fish consumption warnings
  • The pollution has deprived residents of the use and enjoyment of a public resource
  • The Anacostia River has been contaminated with dangerous chemicals including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, benzene, and toxic metals
  • The settlement advances the District's goal of making the Anacostia River swimmable and fishable again

What's next

  • Within 30 days of the settlement, Washington Gas must submit a plan for placement of the containment barrier
  • The barrier must be installed within 60 days of receiving approval and necessary permits from the two adjacent boat clubs
  • The containment boom is expected to be installed in late 2025 or early 2026
  • The larger environmental investigation and remediation process will continue beyond these immediate containment measures

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer