Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins, along with other Republican members of the committee, requested information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland. The request was made in a letter sent to the EPA following the incident that occurred on Jan. 19.
The issue is significant because the collapse led to more than 243 million gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage being discharged into the Potomac River. E. coli levels were reported to be over 1,000 times higher than safety limits immediately after the event. Public health advisories were issued, and temporary bypass systems were installed as crews worked to contain and manage the spill.
In their letter, committee members said, “The magnitude of this discharge raises serious concerns regarding Maryland’s compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the adequacy of state enforcement under delegated authority. As the holder of sole jurisdiction over the CWA in the House of Representatives, the Committee is particularly interested in effective functioning of the Act.”
Under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, states can be delegated authority by EPA to administer National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Maryland has received this delegation, making its Department of Environment responsible for enforcing permit conditions and prohibiting unpermitted discharges according to state regulations. However, federal oversight remains with EPA to ensure compliance with federal law.
The committee members also stated they are prepared to support EPA as it continues its investigation into how much sewage leaked into local waterways.
