In a bold move to protect its residents and the environment, the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, accusing it of over a century of reckless pollution in the Anacostia River. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims the government has treated the nine-mile river as a dumping ground for industrial waste, sewage, and toxic chemicals for nearly 150 years, severely damaging the river’s ecosystem and public health.
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the federal government’s actions have turned the once-pristine waterway into a hazardous site, disproportionately affecting communities east of the river. Schwalb, determined to hold the U.S. accountable, stated, “The United States is not immune from complying with environmental laws. Today, we’re suing to hold it financially accountable for the damage it has knowingly and intentionally caused.”
The lawsuit, filed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the District’s Brownfield Revitalization Act, seeks to force the federal government to clean up the river and restore it as a safe space for residents to swim, fish, and enjoy nature. The district contends that the U.S. government, as the owner of the riverbed, is responsible for decades of contamination stemming from military operations, hazardous waste dumping, and mismanagement of the city’s sewer system.
The complaint points to the U.S. Navy’s activities at the Washington Navy Yard, where operations like shipbuilding and gun manufacturing dumped carcinogenic PCBs, heavy metals, and other harmful substances into the river. It also highlights hazardous runoff from the Kenilworth Park waste dump and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging operations that spread toxic pollution throughout the waterway.
While the lawsuit does not specify damages, it notes that the District of Columbia has already spent $1.8 billion on sewer system modernization to address the ongoing contamination. Schwalb’s office is now demanding that the U.S. government be held responsible for the long-standing environmental harm caused by these actions.
The case, District of Columbia v. United States, will be heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
