Lawsuit Accuses Alexandria Of Polluting Potomac With Toxic Tar Coal

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An environmentalist group is taking Alexandria to federal court following allegations that the city is polluting the waterways with cancer-causing chemicals.

In a recently filed lawsuit, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network alleges that the city discharges toxic coal tar waste into the Potomac River, a violation of the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

“Potomac Riverkeeper’s investigation reveals that the Outfall has been illegally discharging coal tar and creosote wastes into the Potomac River on a continuous basis since at least 1975," Phillip Musegaas, PRKN’s Vice President for Programs and Litigation said in a news release.

"Many of these pollutants are classified as probable human carcinogens. Documents prepared on behalf of the city acknowledge that concentrations detected near the Outfall site are a potential danger to marine and aquatic organisms and the animals that feed on them," he continued.

According to the group, Dean Naujoks with Potomac Riverkeeper was instrumental in conducting the investigation which uncovered this long-standing pollution. He said that for at least 47 years, these wastes have migrated from the Alexandria Gas Company site to the Outfall storm sewer pipe and have been discharged into the Potomac River, where they are present in the surface water and sediments.

PRKN says the location is particularly troubling because the Outfall lies adjacent to Founders Park, a recreational area used by many Alexandria residents and the River is frequently used for kayaking, paddling, and recreational fishing by the general public.

"The city’s effort to eliminate these discharges has been too slow, too limited, and has failed to stop the imminent and substantial danger," Naujoks said.

Andrea Blackford, a spokeswoman for the city, told The Washington Post that Alexandria was “surprised” by the suit. Local government officials have “worked closely” with the group and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to remediate the remnants of contamination at the gas plant site.

The Potomac Riverkeeper Network said it is seeking a court order requiring the city to immediately abate the continued discharge of coal tar and creosote wastes and to characterize and remediate the full extent of the contamination it created in the Potomac River.