EPA# 903-F-97-001 FEB. 97
I
ANACOSTIA RIVEh
WATERSHED
Restoration for
the River
Risk Reduction
National Agricultural
Research Center
Beaverdam
Creek
National
Arboretum
WASHINGTON
District of Columbia
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Washington
National
Airport
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Bridge S
Progress and planning under the
Anacostia
Ecosystem Initiative
#»>. A Program of the
11 U.S. Environmental
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^*attr Protection Agency, Region III
^ he waters that give rise to the Anacostia River begin in the northern most reaches
of Montgomery' and Prince George's Counties. The Northwest and Northeast
branches are free-flowing streams that join to form the the tidal Anacostia River
near the historic port of Bladensburg. Maryland. The tidal river flows 8.4 miles to
its confluence with the Potomac River near the southern tip of the District of
Columbia. Along its course, a number of smaller streams contribute directly to the
tidal river, although most of these streams are now enclosed in storm sewers.
The Anacostia watershed was once a thriving center of Indian culture set amidst
the Piedmont and Coastal Plain provinces in the early 17th century'. The
Nanchotank Indians, a semiagricultural tribe, lived at the confluence of the
Anacostia and Potomac Rivers in what is now Washington, DC. Containing
healthy populations of American and hickory shad, white and yellow perch, red-
breasted sunfish, striped bass, catfish, and herring, the fish of the Anacostia River
provided the Nanchotank Indians and others living in the surrounding region with
a seemingly limitless food source. Lush forests and abundant wildlife
complemented the crystal clear river that flowed into the Potomac and ultimately
the Chesapeake Bay.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, large portions of the watershed
were cleared for tobacco, corn, and cotton farming. Severe erosion resulted and
sediment accumulated in the Anacostia. By the mid-nineteenth century, ships
could no longer navigate up river to the once thriving port of Bladensburg.
Since the late nineteenth century, ecological problems in the Anacostia
watershed have largely resulted from an expanding human population and the
associated changes in land use and land cover. Today more than 800,0(X) people
live in the Anacostia watershed — an average population density of 4.570 people
per square mile. The ongoing loss of forest and wetland habitat, alteration of
stream flow, increases in nonpoint source pollution, and discharges of combined
sewer overflows and industrial waste have all contributed to the decline in the
ecological health of the watershed.
A study completed in 1990 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined
that the main causes of the ecological degradation of the Anacostia River were
( 1 ) lack of environmental controls during the extensive urbanization of the
watershed in the twentieth century and (2) past activities of the Corps of
Engineers in flood control, channelization, navigation implementation, debris
removal, and aquatic-vegetation control. Between 1902 and I960, those activites
destroyed approximately 2,600 acres of wetlands, 99.(XK) linear feet of aquatic
habitat, and 700 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in the Anacostia watershed.
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LOCAL RESTORATION EFFORTS
By 1990, when the United States Army Corps of Engineers re-
leased its findings on the degradation of the Anacostia River
(summarized in the text on the cover), the process of restoring
the watershed was already under way. The Anacostia Water-
shed Restoration Committee was formed in 1987 under the au-
thority of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Agreement
signed by the District of Columbia, Montgomery County,
Princes George's County, the State of Maryland, and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers. In 1991, the Committee adopted a
plan entitled A Commitment to Restore Our Home River: A Six
Point Action Plan to Restore the Anacostia River. That restoration
initiative established six scientifically based goals for restoring
and protecting the Anacostia River watershed. It emphasized
the need for interagency and intercommunity cooperation in
achieving the goals.
Since 1991, the Anacostia River watershed has experienced
certain improvements in water quality and its ability to sustain
critical habitat and aquatic life. More importantly, there has been
a groundswell of environmental, public and civic group activism
to clean-up the River and protect the watershed from further
degradation. The Anacostia is no longer the "forgotten River." It
is clearly undergoing a rebirth with local groups leading the way.
FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT
Small waterways like the Anacostia River do not often com-
mand the direct or targeted attention of Federal environmental
protection programs. Their welfare is left to local initiatives, ex-
emplified by the work of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration
Committee and the public-interest groups, private citizens, and
local officials that have supported it. These special problem
areas often escape Federal attention when the impacted com-
munities do not muster sufficient political clout. The combined
influence of those two factors is demonstrated by the disparate
attention paid at the Federal level to pollution of Washington's
two main waterways prior to 1990. The millions of dollars spent
on restoring and protecting the large, high-profile Potomac
River and the successes achieved there stand in sharp contrast
to the modest Federal resources applied to cleaning up the
Anacostia River.
Eventually, the extent of the Anacostia's plight and the con-
sequences of neglert -to the capital city's image, to the water
quality of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay, and to
the quality of life in the communities that line the river's
banks—were spotlighted in a Report to Congress prepared by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992. Based on
the recommendations in that document, the Anacostia water-
shed was designated by the President of the United States as
one of seven ecosystems in the nation requiring priority restora-
tive attention. Recommendations from this White House
Ecosystem Management Task Force included a stronger and
more coordinated Federal role in the restoration. EPA began to
work in earnest with the Army Corps of Engineers and others to
bring the full benefit of Federal involvement to the Anacostia
watershed restoration.
In July 1994, the Agreement of Federal Agencies on Eco-
system Management in the Chesapeake Bay (developed by the
Chesapeake Bay Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region III) was signed by 23 Federal agencies and de-
partments. A line item in that document pledged the signers'
full support of a Federal workplan to clean up the Anacostia in
cooperation with the Anacostia Watershed Restoration
Committee. That item reflected the fact that the Anacostia River
is linked to the Chesapeake Bay via its outflow into the Potomac
River, which in turn flows into the Bay.
Three months later, in September 1994, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, Region Ml, introduced its
Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative. This was the culmination
of some three years of work from the time the Agency
first espoused the restoration of the Anacostia River wa-
tershed in the early 1990s. The Initiative would allow the
Agency to sign on as a full partner in the local restoration
effort.
U.S. Environmental Protection
eginning with the Special Report to Congress
in 1992, prepared by the Chesapeake Bay
Program, the EPA began to apply its expertise
in ecosystem management principles directly
to the effort to strengthen the Federal presence in
restoration activities. Federal participation allows for the
establishment of an Urban Watershed Model that can be
used in other urban areas throughout the country.
In September 1994, the EPA Region III announced the
Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative. The four main features of
the Initiative are: watershed restoration; multi-media risk
reduction; environmental justice; and public education
and involvement.
Activities under the Initiative can be broken down as
follows:
• To identify and target compliance and enforcement
activities at Federal facilities in the watershed.
• To assist in coordinating restoration activities at
Federal facilities in the watershed.
• To seek greater controls over combined sewer and
storm water discharges.
• To ensure equal protection from environmental haz-
ards of the watershed community regardless of race,
ethnicity, or economic status.
• To provide a full-time liaison to the Anacostia com-
munity to seek out and report local concerns and
interests.
GOALS OF THE INITIATIVE
Watershed restoration
Multi-media risk reduction
Environmental justice
Public education/involvement
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STJ;
M INITIATIVE
/\gency, Region
PROGRESS TO DATE
I
COMMUNITY LIAISON APPOINTED
n May 1995, EPA Region III hired a community liaison for the
Anacostia River restoration project. The liaison has established a base at
the Kramer Middle School in Anacostia, and divides time between that
location and home base at EPA Region Ill's Chesapeake Bay Program of-
fice in Annapolis. The liaison has regular contact with citizens, community
leaders, and interest groups to maintain a two-way flow of information and
ideas associated with the day-to-day and long-term aspects of the restoration
project. The liaison also assists in delivering environmental science educa-
tion to the District of Columbia's school children.
EPA REGION III BECOMES A FORMAL PARTNER
In May 1996, the relationship between EPA Region III and the local groups
working on the Anacostia River's restoration was formalized in a
Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Region III Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Chairman of the Anacostia
bhed Restoration Committee. The two parties to the Agreement
pledged to cooperate in continuing the restoration of the Anacostia River
and in providing diligent outreach and environmental services to the river's
bordering communities. As a result of the agreement, EPA Region III
became a non-voting member of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration
Committee.
KEY STRATEGIES FORMALIZED
Two achievements in 1996 stemmed directly from the 7994 Agreement of
Federal Agencies on Ecosystem Management in the Chesapeake Bay.
Key strategies were developed with considerable Federal leadership and
participation:
• Special Tributary Strategy for Federal Lands in the District of Columbia.
• Biennial Federal Workplan for the Anacostia River Watershed
In addition, a third strategy was completed in October 1996 with extensive
public participation:
• Regional Action Plan for Toxics
Special Tributary Strategy for Federal Lands: On March 25, 1996. the
Special Tributary Strategy for Federal Lands in the District of Columbia was
signed by 18 high-level Federal officials at the U.S. National Arboretum on
the banks of the Anacostia River. The voluntary agreement calls for im-
proved control of stormwater runoff on all Federal lands in the District of
Columbia. It also supplements the District's strategy to meet the 40% nutri-
ent reduction goal of the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Biennial Federal Workplan: On November 22, 1996, a draft Biennial
Federal Workplan for the Anacostia River Watershed was introduced by EPA
Region Ill's Chesapeake Bay Program and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Baltimore District) in cooperation with the Anacostia
Watershed Restoration Committee.
The workplan translates the goals of the Anacostia Watershed Res-
toration Committee's Six-Point Action Plan into specific actions to be under-
taken by Federal agencies and facilities that impact water quality in the
Anacostia and watershed. The workplan emphasizes that the Federal agen-
cies cannot singlehandedly restore and protect the Anacostia River water-
shed. Success will depend on the continuation of efforts by state and local
agencies, private landholders,
and citizens organizations.
The primary purpose of the
workplan is to provide guidance
necessary to ensure that Federal
actions are:
• Coordinated and collabo-
rative in their approach;
• Compatible with and sup-
portive of actions of other
Success will depend on
the continuation of efforts
by state and local agencies,
private landholders, and
citizens' groups.
Federal and non-Federal
participating groups;
• Designed to address ef-
fectively the restoration
priorities defined in the
Six-Point Action Plan and others that may subsequently arise;
• Able to be routinely tracked and documented in terms of cost and
progress.
Regional Action Plan for Toxics: In October 1996, the District of
Columbia completed a Regional Action Plan for Toxics. The plan defines a se-
ries of steps that organizations may take to minimize toxic loading into the
Anacostia River and to rectify past damage to the river. The plan incorpo-
rates inputs from local citizens and interest groups that were obtained during
interviews and public forums. The work was supported by grants from the
Chesapeake Bay Program.
INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED AT FEDERAL FACILITIES
In 1995. EPA Region III conducted multi-media inspections to determine
compliance under various environmental statutes at the Washington Navy
Yard, the Southeast Federal Center, and the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. Subsequently, there were high-level meetings with Navy personnel
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to address the outstanding compliance issues at the facility. Section 7003
of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was used as the basis
for an Order addressing hazardous-waste contamination of soil, ground
water, and surface water. In June 1996, the Navy agreed to contract for
immediate clean up of contaminated sediments in three outfall locations
and to perform additional clean up in 1997.
Follow up of compliance issues involving the Southeast Federal
Center continues. A special Federal appropriation of $15 million was
directed to environmental remediation at this location.
Two other Notices of Violation under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act were issued to the Navy in June 1996 and are pending
resolution. They concern violations at the Washington Navy Yard and
the Anacostia Naval Station.
Assessments conducted at the Washington Navy Yard site indicate
that the contamination there in the presence of a subsistence fishery and
other sensitive environments would qualify the site for inclusion on the
Superfund National Priorities List. In July 1996, EPA Region III
requested District of Columbia concurrence with the listing and
subsequently received it in October 1996. Meanwhile, progress toward
clean up continues under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
action.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is presently in compliance.
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW IMPROVED
A new operating permit for the Blue Plains sewage-treatment plant is
now strengthening the monitoring, public notification, and control of
combined sewer overflows in the District of Columbia. The new permit
was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in January 1997, fol-
lowing certification by the District of Columbia. It incorporates controls
on combined sewer overflow and nutrients in the Anacostia that are in
line with national policy. The permit also defines Biological Nitrogen
Removal pilot plant requirements that will further reduce nutrient pol-
lution in the Potomac River basin and, consequently, in the Anacostia
River, since the basin is a tidal system.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Since the start of its Anacostia Ecosystem Initiativein 1994, EPA Region III
has channeled over $1 million to
projects designed to generate
community involvement and
awareness in the issues associ-
ated with the Anacostia's pollu-
tion and restoration. Examples
include support for the Toxics
Action Plan and Biennial Federal
Workplan described previously.
Further examples include fish
advisory signs along the river,
educational canoe trips for
school children, science fairs and
festivals, comparative risk stud-
ies on overall health risks, and
environmental justice projects.
In addition to those individ-
ual, relatively small grants, EPA ^ ^
Region III, through its
Chesapeake Bay Program and Non-Point Source Program, has chan-
neled more than $2.5 million to the District of Columbia and Maryland
for environmental protection work.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FISHING NOTICE
REGULAC1ONES PARA LA PESCA
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How to find out more about the
ANACOSTIA ECOSYSTEM INITIATIVE
,to sr^ The staff of the U.S. Environmental Protection
^^ *y Agency, Region III, wiO be happy to respond to
questions and comments about the Anacostia
Ecosystem Initiative—the restoration project itself
and related community involvement. Below is a list
of contacts and their areas of expertise.
REGION III CONTACTS
Jon M. Capacasa, Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative Manager
(215)566-5422
Eric Ashton, Federal Facilities Coordinator
(215)566-2713
Bill Arguto, Remedial Project Manager! Superfund
(215)566-3367
Jim McCreary, Hazardous Waste Sites Study
(215) 566-3243
Claudette Reed, Enforcement Coordination/Compliance Snapshot
(215)566-2997
Elaine Harbold, Blue Plains Permit/CSOs
(215)566-5744
Reginald Harris, Environmental Justice
(215)566-2988
Written correspondence to these individuals should be addressed to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107
LOCAL AREA CONTACT
Bev Baker, Community Liaison
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Chesapeake Bay Program
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109
Annapolis, MD 21403
1 800 YOUR BAY, ext. 772
'o'nue NW
'30
Visit the Initiative's web site at
http://www.epa.gov/chesapeake/anacostia/
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In November 1996, EPA Region III issued an updated workplan
for the Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative. The overall goal to restore
the Anacostia River and its watershed remains the same, with
planning for the following objectives:
° To target U.S. Environmental Protection Agency programs to
the benefit of the project.
° To minimize pollution from combined-sewer-overflows.
0 To provide public outreach and education.
0 To assist and coordinate restoration activities at Federal instal-
lations in the watershed.
0 To pursue reduction of environmental risk to the public from
air, soil, and water contamination.
monitoring, and other issues pertinent to long-term resolution of the
problem will be explored with all the interested parties.
The Anacostia Working Group within EPA Region III will continue
to coordinate activities across all programs and divisions. The Group
will identify issues that EPA Region III can help to resolve and op-
portunities for channeling resources for the benefit of the Anacostia
watershed restoration.
The comprehensive assessment of historical hazardous waste sites,
begun in July 1996, will continue aggressively, resulting in targeted in-
vestigations of dozens of sites that have attracted the concern of the
citizens of the Anacostia community and the Environmental
Protection Agency. Periodic status reports will be delivered to the
community by meetings and facts sheets. Brownfields will be assessed
for their redevelopment potential and clean-up or stabilization needs.
In March 1997, EPA Region III will launch the "Compliance
Snapshot" report for the Anacostia. This public report will tally the
facility-by-facility status of compliance with various environmental
laws. By making this readily accessible to the public, EPA is providing
an additional Right to Know database.
In cooperation with leaders and river restoration personnel in the
Anacostia community, EPA Region III will continue its development
of environmental indicators and measures of progress that was initi-
ated under this Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative.
The feasibility of addressing sediment remediation in the
Anacostia River as part of the process of nominating deserving sites
for inclusion in the Superfund National Priorities List will be investi-
gated. Prior compliance/enforcement proceedings will be followed up
and targets for new pollution inspections will be sought as resources
allow.
Enforcement lawyers and managers will be provided ready access
to a current Supplemental Environmental Projects lists of Anacostia
River projects for use in their settlement negotiations.
The automotive service and repair facilities will be assisted and
pollution-prevention workshops will be conducted in the District of
Columbia to reduce toxics and oil pollution in the Anacostia River.
Specifically, the sources of oil/grease pollution to Hickey Run will be
investigated by sewer tracing in conjunction with the Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments and the District of Columbia.
Compliance/enforcement procedures will be initiated as warranted.
COMBINED-SEWER-OVERFLOW CONTROL
EPA will closely monitor newly issued discharge permits for the
watershed. Monitoring of combined-sewer-overflow loads into the
Anacostia River will be enhanced and information on the discharges
will be disseminated to foster scientific study in the area. Technical-
exchange meetings among the several interested agencies and groups
will be convened to review long-term control strategies. Funding,
EPA Region III will continue to fund and support the liaison for the
communities that border the Anacostia River. The community liaison
will continue to establish regular contact with citizens, community
leaders, and interest groups to maintain a two-way flow of informa-
tion and ideas associated with the day-to-day and long-term aspects
of the Anacostia River restoration project. Special emphasis will be
placed on bringing the story and the science of the Anacostia River
restoration project to the school children of the area.
At least two major public meetings/forums per year will be con-
ducted in the Anacostia community, and program and project man-
agers will be encouraged to conduct similar outreach sessions. The
meetings will be oriented toward enhancing feedback to EPA Region
III concerning its programs and to building consensus on the assign-
ment of priorities to the community's perceived needs.
Fact sheets, newsletters, news releases, etc, will be issued and the
Internet site will be used to deliver current news and information to
the public about the Anacostia River restoration project and the cur-
rent condition of the river.
Staff members will dedicate time to supporting the Science in
Education program in the District of Columbia's schools and launch-.
ing an environmental science curriculum at Kramer Middle School ir|
Anacostia.
COOPERATION FROM FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS
EPA Region III will assist in the finalization of the Biennial Federal
Workplan for the Anacostia River Watershed in April 1997, to ensure
that it will serve effectively as a needs and assessment master plan for
environmental restoration work at Federal installations in the
Anacostia watershed.
RISK REDUCTION FOR THE COMMUNITY
The District of Columbia Environmental Characterization Report will
be distributed to interested parties and the public by April 1997,
following completion of peer review and local-community review.
The report will be used as a benchmark for future risk assessment in
the District of Columbia.
A working session attended by representatives of EPA Region III,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments is scheduled for early 1997 to discuss imple-
mentation of the Regional Action Plan for Toxics, which was com-
pleted in October 1996. EPA Region III will press for the document
to be expanded by a "Phase Two" effort that would provide a parallel
plan for the Maryland portion of the watershed. Inclusion of that in-
formation would make the document a truly comprehensive action
plan for the entire Anacostia watershed.
EPA will continue to explore, along with the various partners
under this Initiative, various means to officially designate the
Anacostia as a National Urban Watershed Restoration Model in leg-
islation and policy directives. This will promote the exchange of suc-
cessful techniques and lessons learned with other urban river
restoration efforts across the United States.
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