Trump blames Maryland, D.C. and Virginia for massive sewage spill, offers help if they ask "politely"
CBSN
Washington — President Trump is blaming government leaders in the metro Washington, D.C. area, among them Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, following a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C. area, perhaps the largest in American history.
Washington — President Trump is blaming government leaders in the metro Washington, D.C. area, among them Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, following a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C. area, perhaps the largest in American history.
President Trump said in a post on Truth Social Tuesday that the federal government would help clean up the spill, which occurred in mid-January, if local leaders ask "politely," though he had said Monday in a so he would direct federal authorities to "immediately provide all necessary management, direction and coordination" to protect the Potomac.
After Moore indicated the federal government bears the responsibility for maintaining the collapsed 60-year-old Potomac Interceptor behind the spill, Mr. Trump said in his post that Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. were responsible for the "massive sewage spill," and if they can't fix it, "they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed." He added that the "federal government is not at all involved with what has taken place, but we can fix it."
A section of the sewer line collapsed in January in Montgomery County, Maryland, sending more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac. Although DC Water — the public utility that's responsible for the District's drinking water, wastewater collection and sewage treatment — has diverted the wastewater spill and is working to sanitize the water, it didn't manage to do so before the wastewater severely tainted the Potomac with high levels of E. coli and other bacteria. DC Water is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency.
"This is a Radical Left caused Environmental Hazard," the president wrote in his post Tuesday. "With all of their talk about carbon footprints and everything else, they're allowing hundreds of tons of sewage to pour into the Mighty Potomac, making it much less mighty. ACT FAST. I am awaiting your call."
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