Months After a Jet Fuel Leak, No Agency Tested Waters Downstream of Piscataway Creek. So Community Groups Are Doing It Themselves.

In the five months following a jet fuel leak from Joint Base Andrews into Piscataway Creek, no government agency conducted water or sediment testing downstream in the stretch where residents fish and recreate. This area, approximately 20 miles from the leak's origin, flows into the Potomac River, a popular spot for shoreline communities and anglers. An Indigenous leader has characterized this lack of official response as a continuation of historical neglect. The community groups have initiated their own water testing efforts to address the gap in official oversight. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that it was not the lead agency for this particular spill, deferring to the Department of Defense. The Department of Defense has not yet provided a statement regarding its testing protocols or plans for the affected downstream areas. Piscataway Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, a vital waterway for the region's ecosystem and recreational activities.