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Register for the Oct. 29 Walk in the Woods: Let’s be Smart About Winter Salt, Gaithersburg, MD

October 24, 2022

People hiking in the Frederick Municipal Forest in the fall.

Winter brings cozy sweaters and steaming cups of hot chocolate, but it also brings piles of winter salt that could end up in our rivers and streams. Winter salt harms aquatic life, plants, infrastructure and our drinking water.

Join the Izaak Walton League of America and the City of Gaithersburg on a fun and informative hike to learn more about our addiction to deicing salt and how we can all live on a low winter salt diet.

Expect to walk about 3 miles on easy terrain. Please bring your own water bottle, snacks, and bug spray (if needed).

This event is free but please register on Eventbrite in case of delays or rescheduling due to bad weather.

Izaak Walton League will be providing a Salt Watch kit to anyone interested in getting involved.

Each participant will be required to complete the following form. Copies will be available at the beginning of the hike or click here to bring your own printed, signed copy.

This hike is produced by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) in collaboration with the City of Gaithersburg and the Izaak Walton League of America. It is part of ICPRB’s Walk in the Woods series of hikes.

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ICPRB Resolution Commemorating the Clean Water Act

October 18, 2022

WHEREAS the 1972 Clean Water Act, which aimed to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution to achieve fishable and swimmable waters, will mark its 50th anniversary on October 18, 2022;

WHEREAS the Clean Water Act has been central to the important progress we have made as a nation in improving the quality and health of our rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and watersheds;

WHEREAS the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), formed in 1940 as a regional, basin-based water quality agency, served as a precursor to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and subsequent Clean Water Act;

WHEREAS the ICPRB and its member jurisdictions, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C., have worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency under provisions of the Clean Water Act to improve basin water quality and increase public knowledge of and engagement in water quality and resources issues. These efforts include cooperative projects aimed at comprehensive water resources planning guidance, source water protection, nutrient reduction, pollution control in point and non-point sources, invasive species control, and other improvements;

WHEREAS these efforts that have improved water quality trends in the Potomac have also benefitted and assisted the federal/state Chesapeake Bay cleanup;

WHEREAS the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) has asked ICPRB and other governments and organizations to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act on October 18, 2022;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and authorizes the Executive Director to communicate such recognition to ACWA and the general public as deemed appropriate.

Approved by ICPRB Commissioners at the August 30, 2022, business meeting

Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director

D. Lee Currey, Chairman

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**RESCHEDULED** Join ICPRB for a Walk in the Woods in Frederick, MD

September 29, 2022

** DUE TO EXPECTED RAIN, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 8**

Join us on October 1 for a hike in the Municipal Forest of the City of Frederick, Md. Our guide for this 3-mile hike is Jenny Willoughby, the Sustainability Manager of Frederick City. Jenny will share her extensive knowledge of the Frederick Municipal Forest and what it takes to sustainably and responsibly manage the city’s source of drinking water. She will talk about the active forest management, the history, and the flora and fauna of the area.

This is the first of several 2022 Walk in the Woods hikes produced by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

Learn more about the event and how to register on the Eventbrite site.

People hiking along a bridge over a stream in the Frederick Municipal Forest.

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2022 Potomac Conference: A Conversation on PFAS

September 28, 2022

On September 22, 2022, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin held a virtual conference on the state of the science, policy, technology, and the future of PFAS in the Potomac River basin.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – are a class of ubiquitous chemicals known as “forever chemicals” that are used in everything from non-stick pans to takeout containers. The chemicals have been found in water, soil, and air. Scientific studies indicate that PFAS may be harmful to human health.

During the webinar, 220 attendees heard about how the basin jurisdictions and the U.S. EPA are addressing PFAS through policy and research. They also heard talks on the environmental justice perspective, the latest scientific research, and what other organizations across the basin are doing to address the issue.

Below you will find links to videos, and PDF presentations from the conference. The videos can also be found on the ICPRB YouTube Playlist: 2022 Potomac Conference: A Conversation on PFAS.

Conference Resources

Session 1: Opening

  • Welcome – Mike Nardolilli, ICPRB
  • Introduction – Lisa Daniels, PA DEP
  • Keynote: EPA’s Update on the PFAS Strategic Roadmap – Zachary Schafer, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Administrator for Water, US EPA
  • The Science of PFAS and Environmental Justice – Kimberly Jones, Howard University

Session 2: PFAS Occurrence in the Potomac Basin

Session 3: PFAS Policy and Regulation

  • Policy and Regulation in Potomac Basin Jurisdictions Panel – Moderator: Sarah Grace Hughes, ECOS
    • Joshua Rodriguez (DC)  •  Lee Currey (MD)  •  Lisa Daniels (PA)  •  Jeffery Steers (VA)  •  Mindy Neil (WV)

 

Session 4: Addressing PFAS through Technology

Session 5: Next Steps

  • Improving the Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Summary of the Chesapeake Bay Program Workshop – Emily Majcher, USGS
  • Advocacy Priorities to Address PFAS in Our Watershed – Brent Walls, Potomac Riverkeeper Network
  • What’s Next: Continuing the Conversation on PFAS – Lee Currey, MDE

Contact us for more information