FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        	                             ENR
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1996                                     (202) 616-2771
							TDD (202) 514-1888
COURT APPROVES SETTLEMENT THAT WILL OVERHAUL BLUE PLAINS
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A federal court has approved a settlement 
requiring the District of Columbia to upgrade the Blue Plains wastewater 
treatment plant to prevent illegal discharges into the Potomac River, the 
Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced today.  

The agreement, approved by Judge Thomas Hogan of the U.S. 
District Court in Washington, D.C., settles allegations that the 
District failed to operate and maintain the treatment facilities, 
in accordance with a permit issued by EPA, in violation of the Clean 
Water Act. In 1995, the EPA inspected the plant and found that conditions 
at the facility were deteriorating.

Under the agreement, the District will take steps to improve 
the way it operates and maintains the facility, launch a $20 million 
effort to upgrade the facility's water treatment equipment, and ensure 
that the plant does not discharge high concentrations of chemical 
pollutants and harmful microorganisms into the Potomac River.  As 
part of the agreement the District will rehabilitate the pollution 
holding tanks and overhaul the outmoded sludge dewatering facilities.

Excess discharges of ammonia, nitrogen, chlorine and certain 
microorganisms could significantly damage aquatic life.  Inadequately 
treated sewage can increase the health risks for people who use the 
river for recreational uses like boating, fishing and swimming.

The Court ruled that the settlement is fair, reasonable and 
in the public interest, and found that "the terms of the Agreement 
contribute to the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, 
physical, and biological integrity of the nation's water."


"The Court has confirmed that this agreement will 
protect the public health and the environment along the Potomac River,"
said Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the 
Environment and Natural Resources Division.  "The District stepped 
up to the plate and did the right thing to improve the Blue Plains 
treatment plant." 

Michael McCabe, EPA Region III Administrator, said "The Court's 
decision removes a major question mark hanging over action needed to upgrade
and improve the operation of Blue Plains.  To the District's credit, they
 didn't wait for this decision.  They moved ahead to comply with the terms 
of the agreement and plant operations have improved."

Steven A. Herman, EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said "This is a big step forward 
for the necessary rehabilitation of Blue Plains.  Judge Hogan's ruling 
assures that the District of Columbia will continue to take the necessary 
steps to improve the facility and protect the environment and the public 
health of the citizens of the Washington Metropolitan area."

The Blue Plains facility treats all wastewaters discharged into the 
sewer system of the District, as well as parts of Maryland's Montgomery 
and Prince Georges's Counties and parts of Virginia's Arlington, Loudon and Fairfax Counties.
The agreement, approved late Friday, was filed by the government last April.
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