[CPEO-MEF] D.C. Gets Update On WWI Cleanup

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Washington, D.C.
THE WASHINGTON POST
D.C. Gets Update On WWI Cleanup
By Maha Al-Azar
Tuesday, July 15, 2003; Page B05

More weapons of mass destruction have been located in Spring Valley over
the past four years than have been found in Iraq, a District health
official said yesterday during a public hearing before two D.C. Council
committees.

Richard Albright, an environmental specialist at the D.C. Department of
Health, said that 655 shells and 220 bottles of chemicals -- some
containing mustard gas -- have been removed from the Spring Valley area,
spanning about 600 acres. The area is home to more than 1,500
residential and commercial shops. American University, Sibley Hospital
and 27 embassies are also in the neighborhood.

Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), who chairs the council's
Committee on Public Works and Environment, summoned Albright to the
hearing to shed light on progress made on the cleanup effort, which was
launched in the mid-1990s. Several other witnesses, including Spring
Valley residents and government officials, also testified before the
council during the joint session with the Committee on Human Services,
chaired by Sandy Allen (D-Ward 8).

"You have a lot of makeup work to do . . . because of sweeping under the
table in the past," she said, addressing Col. Charles Fiala, commander
of the Baltimore District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"You have to go over and beyond, to make up for the past inaction . . .
and lack of compassion," she told the panel, which included
representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and the D.C.
Department of Health.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56595-2003Jul14.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~