Help protect Piney Branch: Your input is crucial to reducing pollution and preserving local waterways

Date:
October 15, 2024
Contact:Autumn Cook, 771-215-6954

WASHINGTON - Nearly 40 million gallons of stormwater mixed with untreated sewage overflow into Piney Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek, annually due to combined sewer overflows (CSOs). These overflows degrade the environment, which harms local waterways and ecosystems. The proposed Piney Branch Tunnel Project aims to capture and temporarily store these overflows during storms, reducing untreated CSOs by 96% and lowering the number of CSO events from 25 to only one per year during typical rainfall conditions. The captured stormwater will be treated at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant before being safely discharged.

The National Park Service (NPS) and District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), invite public comments on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Piney Branch Tunnel Project. This initiative, designed to address water quality issues, will reduce pollution entering Piney Branch, Rock Creek, and downstream into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

Two Alternatives Described in the Environmental Assessment:
No-Action Alternative: The current sewer system would continue operating as it does, resulting in ongoing environmental degradation with no improvements.

Proposed Action Alternative: The construction of a 2,200-foot-long tunnel to store a minimum of 4.2 million gallons of stormwater and sewage, significantly reducing untreated discharges and protecting local water quality. The plan also includes a comprehensive restoration effort with tree replacements and site improvements following construction.

The environmental impacts of each alternative are outlined in the EA, which examines the effects on local wildlife, park resources and visitor experiences. While the proposed tunnel project would involve some temporary disruptions-such as tree removal, trail closures and road detours-NPS and DC Water will restore the affected areas for long-term environmental benefits. Seeing trees removed can be concerning, but it's done to protect important infrastructure that manages stormwater and sewage, helping to keep neighborhoods safe from flooding and backups. There are plans to replant trees described in the EA.

How to Participate:
The NPS values community involvement in shaping this important project. You are encouraged to review the EA and share your thoughts during the public comment period from October 15 to December 6. There are two ways to submit your comments:

1. Online: Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/dcPineyBranch, review the EA and submit comments.

2. By Mail: Send written comments to:
Superintendent
Rock Creek Park
RE: Piney Branch Tunnel EA
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Please make sure mailed comments are postmarked by December 6. Note that all submissions, including personal details, may be publicly accessible. While requests for confidentiality will be considered, full privacy cannot be guaranteed.

###

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.