As congressmembers grilled officials about whether they could have prevented the sewer line collapse that sent more than 240 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River, Maryland residents near the spill site say the smell remains unbearable.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held Congress’ first hearing on the disaster Wednesday, focusing much of the questioning on the National Park Service and the eight-year delay in approving permits to perform extensive pipeline maintenance that might have prevented the collapse.
In the weeks after the collapse, DC Water officials acknowledged they knew in 2018 the 54-mile underground sewer line needed critical repairs. A Washington Post investigation found those repairs were delayed for more than eight years because the NPS did not issue the needed permits for the work.
Several congressmembers tried to get the NPS’ deputy superintendent of the C&O Canal, Edward Wenschhof, to explain the delay.
“I mean, it gets to the point where it seems we spent a lot of time trying to get a permit, didn’t get the permit in time to fix the problem, the problem happens, and it becomes an environmental problem or disaster,” said U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., who chairs the committee.
“Was it never considered imminent?” he asked. “I mean, when you were reviewing the permits, was it ever considered an imminent threat to the environment?”
“I think the specifics of that situation are subject to the litigation, the things before the collapse,” Wenschhof answered.
“Isn’t it true that in 2018, eight years ago, DC Water requested fast-track permits to repair widespread corrosion and detach rebar at the side of the rupture?” asked U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo.
“We’ve been working with them on this initiative for a while,” Wenschhof said.
“Yeah, eight years,” the congresswoman said. “Do you dispute that?”
“The specifics of the prebreak are under the litigation,” Wenschhof said.
NPS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers testified DC Water never told them there was any imminent threat of the sewer line collapsing.
“Okay, I think this is the famous movie line ‘a failure to communicate,’” said U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala. “Because this could have been avoided.”
DC Water CEO David Gadis testified that they still haven’t determined the cause of the collapse but that there are three other sections of the pipe they found in need of immediate repair. He wasn’t sure of the exact locations or whether they threaten the drinking water intake at Great Falls.
“We understand the public’s concern, the frustration and the difficult questions many have asked, including whether this event could have been prevented,” Gadis said. “Those are critical questions, and as a leader of this organization, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure we answer them candidly, transparently and with humility.”
Ew, that smell
At a public forum this week, residents complained the smell coming from the spill site is still problematic.
“But we heard everything they said at the town hall, so we are going back out and taking a look,” Gadis said. “And we know it’s getting hot and the smell can get worse, so as a result, we are going back out and make sure that the smell is not overwhelming and try and take care of whatever that might be.”
Gadis said the cost to the repair and clean up has now exceeded the $20 million estimate and added if the White House does not approve the request for an elevated emergency declaration, that cost will be paid mostly by Maryland and Virginia residents.
He added DC Water is still waiting on the NPS to approve those permits.
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