AG Schwalb sues Fort Myer Construction for polluting DC stormwater system
(UI) — Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against Fort Myer Construction Company, one of the region’s largest road paving firms, for illegally discharging pollutants into Washington, DC’s stormwater system.
The lawsuit claims that Fort Myer repeatedly violated the Water Pollution Control Act (WPCA) by allowing petroleum-contaminated runoff from its facility to pollute local waterways.
“For years, Fort Myer Construction threatened District residents’ health and safety by polluting our waterways in blatant violation of environmental laws,” Schwalb said. “The company ignored repeated orders from DC agencies to clean up its facility and obtain proper permits, choosing instead to put its profits over the protection of DC’s critical natural resources.”
The District’s Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) began inspecting Fort Myer’s Ward 5 facility in 2015. The inspections revealed that the company had been releasing contaminated runoff into the stormwater system, affecting waterways like the Springhouse Run stream, which flows through the National Arboretum and into the Anacostia River. Despite multiple notices and warnings, Fort Myer failed to apply for the necessary permit under the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Multi-Sector General Permit program and continued its illegal discharge practices for years.
The lawsuit seeks financial penalties for these violations.
OAG has been active in environmental protection efforts and has secured nearly $120 million over the past decade for environmental justice initiatives in the District. This includes a $57 million recovery from Pepco for contamination of the Anacostia River. The lawsuit against Fort Myer is part of the office’s ongoing work to hold polluters accountable and safeguard the District’s natural resources.
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