I live on this creek. I spend time on it. I care deeply about it. And right now, I’m angry—and frankly, heartbroken. Because this didn’t have to happen.
We’re told there were failures in the leak detection system. Failures to catch it. Failures to report it. Failures to stop it. That’s not bad luck—that’s negligence. And when it’s happening at a federal facility run by the U.S. Department of Defense, it raises a bigger question: who is actually being held accountable?
Piscataway Creek has already suffered from contamination tied to the base—especially PFAS “forever chemicals.” Maryland previously issued its first fish consumption advisory for the creek because the water and the fish were no longer safe. People who have relied on these waters for generations are being told not to eat what they catch. That’s not theoretical—that’s real harm to real communities.
And now jet fuel is dumping into the same creek—a substance that is highly toxic and contains known carcinogens. There’s something deeply wrong with that.
Even the name Piscataway matters. These waters are tied to Indigenous Piscataway people who have lived with and depended on this river long before any of this pollution existed. That history deserves respect. What we’re seeing instead is repeated disregard.
To its credit, the Maryland Department of the Environment moved quickly once it became aware of the spill. But rapid response after the fact does not excuse the failures that allowed this to happen in the first place.
Meanwhile, the Potomac River has just been named the most endangered river in America. Not because of one issue—but because of all of them: unchecked data center expansion, failing sewage infrastructure, PFAS contamination, and now yet another fuel spill.
This is what systemic failure looks like. And let’s be honest—federal facilities have too often operated with less oversight, less transparency, and fewer consequences than anyone else. If a private company had repeated failures like this, there would be fines, enforcement, and real scrutiny. When it’s the federal government, we get vague statements and reassurances that there’s “no immediate impact.”
That’s not good enough.
The Potomac River is the drinking water source for more than 6 million people. There is no backup. So when something goes wrong here, the standard should be zero tolerance—not damage control after the fact.
What’s most frustrating is that this is preventable. We know how to monitor these systems. We know how to stop leaks. We know how to require immediate reporting. What’s missing isn’t the science—it’s enforcement. Failing to report an oil spill is illegal under U.S. federal law, primarily the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Responsible parties must immediately notify the National Response Center (NRC) of any discharge that violates water quality standards or creates a visible sheen. Intentionally failing to report is a felony under CERCLA.
And if enforcement won’t happen from the top down, it must come from the public.
That means real legal accountability. It means enforcing the Clean Water Act against federal facilities the same way we would against any private polluter. And it means preserving—and using—citizen suit authority so organizations like ours can step in when regulators fail to act.
At Potomac Riverkeeper Network, we will continue to investigate, document, and, when necessary, take legal action to protect this creek and this river. Because right now, that’s what it takes.
What we’re seeing is not a one-off incident. It’s a pattern. And it’s getting worse.
The designation of the Potomac as the nation’s most endangered river should have been a wake-up call. Instead, it feels like we’re watching the same failures play out again and again—while the river, and the communities that depend on it, pay the price.
This creek is part of my home. The Potomac is our shared lifeline. We should not have to fight this hard just to keep them safe. But we will.
Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper
Potomac Riverkeeper Network
Photo Credit: Adam Longo/7News
