WASHINGTON — The Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the U.S. Navy in federal court in Maryland over violations of the Clean Water Act.
According to the Riverkeeper Network, the U.S. Navy uses a long stretch of the Potomac River, about 53 miles south of D.C., and a facility alongside it in Dahlgren, Virginia, to conduct a wide range of weapons testing. The testing takes place on land, in laboratories and in the Potomac River itself. It's the nation's largest over-the-water gun range.
"We were shocked to discover the federal government is openly polluting this waterway without any kind of permit," said Dean Naujoks with the Riverkeepers.
A 51-nautical-mile stretch of river is a designated part of the Potomac River Test Range. The Navy fires small arms and large-caliber guns, detonates explosives and tests lasers and other targeting systems. The Navy has been conducting this activity for decades and has discharged more than 33 million pounds of munitions into the Potomac, the Riverkeepers said.
The lawsuit says the test range has never been regulated by a Clean Water Act permit. A Clean Water Act permit would ensure that pollution from the Navy’s weapons testing does not violate water quality standards established to protect the Potomac River. It would also require the Navy to conduct frequent water quality monitoring and report the results publicly.
"We’re not asking the court to shut down weapons testing. We just want the Navy to get a permit under the Clean Water Act to ensure that their activities protect water quality, like everyone else has to do," said Naujoks.
PRKN and NRDC are now asking a court to declare that the Navy is violating the law through unpermitted discharges of pollution into the Potomac River, and to direct the Navy to secure a Clean Water Act permit.
WUSA9 has reached out to the Navy for any possible comment and has received no response.