WASHINGTON— Alexandria will address environmental contamination surrounding a former gas plant in Old Town.
Residue from the gas plant has been found in the area, sourced from both ground contamination and other contaminants that have entered the Potomac River through a stormwater pipe.
Storm sewer pipe cleanup and general inspection will take place on the week of Feb. 13 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. near the unit block of Oronoco Street, according to a news release from Alexandria. Parking and sidewalk access will be limited, and minor traffic disruptions are possible.
Alexandria has already conducted a sediment sampling and has budgeted for cleaning and removing contaminated sediment and installing a “cap” to prevent any remaining contaminants from seeping into the river. According to the news release, the site of the old gas plant is in the Virginia Voluntary Remediation Program, which allows the city to work closely with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
