Last week, communities around the world gathered to celebrate Earth Day, and at the Office of the Attorney General, we are committed to using every legal tool available to protect the District’s abundant natural resources, fight for environmental justice, and ensure all Washingtonians have access to clean air and water.  

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Rodgers Brothers Custodial Services, Inc. and its president, George Rodgers, Jr., have been ordered to pay $100,000 for repeatedly discharging pollutants—including petroleum and sediment—into DC waterways at its Ward 5 trash transfer and recycling facility. The Court found Rodgers Brothers responsible for five illegal pollution discharges and held the company’s president individually responsible for two of the discharges, ordering him to pay half of the penalty amount.

When I was sworn into office nearly one year ago, humbled by the trust District residents placed in me to represent and advocate for them, I pledged to use the law to combat persistent equity gaps, defend and strengthen the fundamental rights of all who live and work here, ensure that our children live healthy, hopeful lives, and work every day towards a stronger, safer community. I am very proud of the hard work that the talented professionals at the Office of Attorney General have performed over the past year and of the meaningful and impactful results we’ve delivered for District residents across all eight Wards.

All District residents have the right to enjoy the natural treasures of our great city while living in safe and healthy neighborhoods. OAG will continue to work hard, everyday, to ensure that the law protects that right for everyone.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) will pay over $57 million to resolve allegations that it discharged toxic chemicals into the District’s land and waterways for decades, resulting in the persistent toxic pollution of the Anacostia River. Under the terms of the agreement, Pepco must pay $47 million toward cleaning up the Anacostia River and $10 million in penalties. The company also must clean up contamination at its Buzzard Point and Benning Road facilities and investigate the current and historical environmental impacts of the company’s underground, District-wide system of transformer vaults. Additionally, Pepco will pay for the District to oversee this work.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today joined a bipartisan coalition of 22 Attorneys General in opposing a proposed class action settlement that fails to adequately hold the 3M Company (3M) accountable for contaminating the nation’s drinking water supply. Under the proposed settlement, water providers would withdraw the hundreds of lawsuits they have filed against 3M over its use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly referred to as “PFAS” or toxic “forever chemicals” — in a wide range of consumer products and firefighting foams. PFAS are stable in the environment, resistant to degradation, persistent in soil, and known to leach into groundwater.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a lawsuit against over 25 chemical companies, including The 3M Company (3M) and DuPont De Nemours, Inc. (DuPont), for manufacturing, marketing, distributing, and selling products containing dangerous PFAS chemicals which now pollute the District’s natural resources.

Statement of Emma Simson, Senior Counsel to the Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia