Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb of the District of Columbia has initiated a groundbreaking lawsuit against the United States government, accusing it of over 150 years of pollution that has devastated the Anacostia River, one of D.C.’s most critical natural resources.
The lawsuit demands accountability and cleanup for the federal government’s toxic legacy, which includes contamination from PCBs, hazardous pesticides, and heavy metals.
“The federal government has been the number one driver of pollution in the Anacostia River for over 150 years,” Schwalb said. “Today, we’re suing to hold it financially accountable for the damage it has knowingly and intentionally caused.”
Long History of Neglect and Environmental Damage
The complaint outlines how federal facilities and operations—including the Washington Navy Yard, Kenilworth Landfill, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing—contributed to the river’s degradation.
From dumping hazardous chemicals like PCBs to destructive dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers, the government’s actions have inflicted environmental and public health consequences. Hazardous substances like arsenic, mercury, and dioxins were routinely released into the river through stormwater runoff, outdated sewer systems, and industrial waste disposal.
The Washington Navy Yard alone contributed significant pollution through operations such as ship repair, gun manufacturing, and coal storage, with contaminants continuing to flow into the river from stormwater runoff. The Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging operations disturbed toxic sediment, spreading pollution throughout the river. Federal facilities at Poplar Point, including dry-cleaning operations and chemical storage, added to the contamination, with hazardous substances like PCBs and pesticides leaching into the water.
The complaint also spells out historical systemic failures.
Poor sewage management by the federal government before D.C. Home Rule in 1973 led to billions of gallons of raw sewage and hazardous waste being dumped into the Anacostia River. Combined sewer systems constructed by the federal government released toxic substances directly into the water.
District taxpayers have since funded sewer modernization projects at a cost exceeding $1.8 billion.
Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Communities
The lawsuit underscores the disproportionate harm suffered by communities of color living near the Anacostia River.
Carmel Henry, president of the NAACP’s D.C. branch, noted the historical environmental injustice.
“There are two rivers that flow through the District of Columbia, but for too long, the Anacostia River has remained a troubled and contaminated body of water,” Henry said.
According to the complaint, the U.S. government operated the Kenilworth Landfill, a burning waste dump, from 1942 to 1968. Hazardous materials, including arsenic, PCBs, and mercury, seeped into the river via surface water runoff, further exposing nearby communities to environmental and health risks.
The Langston Golf Course, built on dredged landfill waste, remains an ongoing source of pollution, with hazardous substances continuing to leach into the river.
A Call for Accountability
The lawsuit, filed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the District’s Brownfield Revitalization Act, seeks damages and a declaration of future liability from the United States government.
The District has already invested $46 million in cleanup efforts through the Anacostia River Sediment Project and plans to begin interim remediation in 2025. Despite these efforts, the complaint states that the federal government has refused to acknowledge its responsibility.
“We hope this lawsuit keeps the cleanup project moving ahead swiftly and completely, with physical work on remedial actions in the river to begin this year, and with the federal government paying their fair share,” said Trey Sherard of Anacostia Riverkeeper.