Other Ongoing Cleanup Investigations
A Potential Environmental Cleanup Site (PECS) is defined as an area along the shoreline of the Anacostia River where current or historical activities included the storage, handling, use, or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum products. Currently, 15 PECSes have been identified within the Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP) study area but more sites may be identified as information becomes available. The following PECSes and Maryland Department of the Environmental (MDE) have ongoing investigations to determine the nature and extent of contamination at their sites.
Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the oldest continuously operated federal facility in the United States. WNY studied the nature and extent of Navy contribution to the Anacostia River (e.g., sediment and fish tissue sampling, background studies, risk assessments and forensics study) and is currently working on developing cleanup options for its nearshore sediments (Operable Unit 2) via a Feasibility Study (FS).
The Pepco Benning Road Facility (Pepco) was part of the Washington, D.C. area’s electric power generation, transmission, and distribution system. It operated for over 100 years. Pepco completed its Remedial Investigation (RI) for its Benning Road Facility and adjacent portions of the Anacostia River and is currently preparing a Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) that will describe remedial and restoration options for Pepco Cove.
The CSX Benning Yard (CSX) is an active railroad switching yard and of portion of the site was used to store and dispense diesel fuel to locomotives. Several incidents and spills of fuel oil, coal, transformer oil were addressed by excavating petroleum-impacted soils, installing an oxygen releasing compound in trenches at the bottom of the excavated area, and backfilling with clean fill. Investigations following construction in 2004 found that hydrocarbon-impacted groundwater was seeping into Fort Dupont Creek, a tributary to the tidal Anacostia River. In 2016, CSX excavated hydrocarbon impacted soils.
Washington Gas - East Station Site
The Washington Gas Light Company manufactured gas from coal and oil at its former plant continuously from 1888 to 1948, and intermittently until the mid-1980s. By-products were occasionally used as fill included residual products from the cleaning of coke filter beds, tar that was mixed with solid waste, and wood chips contaminated with absorbed tar and cyanides. The National Park Service (NPS), with support from DOEE, is currently overseeing investigations at the Site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
The Kenilworth Park Landfill (KPL) is 130-acre site which operated as a landfill from 1942 to 1970. KPL is currently managed by NPS. NPS prepared a FS that identified remedial alternatives to address risks associated with contaminants in surface soils. NPS released a Proposed Plan for public comment in 2020 that identified its Preferred Alternative for the Site.
Poplar Point is a 96-acre site consisting of four parcels: (1) 20 acres previously occupied by DC’s Lanham Tree Nursery, (2) 13-acres previously occupied by the Architect of the Capitol Nursery, (3) 46 acres previously occupied by the Naval Receiving Station (currently occupied by NPS and U.S. Park Police), and (4) 17 acres located along the north side of Anacostia Drive next to the Anacostia River. Currently, DOEE is conducting a RI/FS with oversight by NPS.
Upper Watershed Efforts: Summary of MDE Activities
Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has a PCB Source Trackdown Study underway that focuses on Lower Beaver Dam Creek (LBDC). MDE recently conducted multi-media sampling in LBDC onsite and preliminary results indicate further characterization is needed to develop a complete Conceptual Site Model.