FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010


KLMNO


Officials try to ease alarm about lead in D.C. water


lead from B1


view Thursday that partial pipe replacements may not have effec- tively reduced lead levelsandthat they do not know whether partial replacements made the problem worse. On Thursday, residents


jammedphonelines atD.C.Water seeking information about their pipes and asking the agency to test their tap water. There was also an increase in calls to bottle water delivery service. Elisabeth Kvernen, a Web de-


signer who is seven months preg- nant, said that she was uncertain about the status of the pipes in the Capitol Hill apartment build- ing where she lives and that she planned to follow up with her landlord. She quickly contactedD.C.Wa-


ter and learned that she could not test the tap in her unit because it requires shutting off the water in the building. Until she gets more answers, Kvernen said she plans to be more diligent about using her pitcher-filter system. “It’s a matter of not knowing.


I’d just like to know,” she said. Hawkins said residents can


call D.C. Water at 202-354-3600 for information on how to obtain test kits or find out whether lead pipes at their homes had been completely or partially replaced. Pierre Erville, head of the Lead


and Healthy Housing Division, said residents with lead service lines, whether partially replaced or intact, are at an increased risk of lead exposure. He advises resi- dents with lead lines to have their water tested, usewater filters and take any children younger than 6 who live in the house to a doctor for a blood level test. CDC officials stressed that the


District appears to be addressing their concerns. “We believe the risk is fairly minimal today,” Sinks said. According to data supplied by


D.C.Water, more than 90 percent of District houses have fewer than 7 parts per billion of lead, far below the 15 parts per billion that the EPA deems unaccept- able. To comply with federal guide-


lines, D.C.Water tests at least 100 “high-risk” properties every six months for lead levels, according to Rich Giani, the supervisor for


water quality at D.C.Water. Between the start of 2009 and


June of this year, 307 properties were tested. About 30 percent of the tests were done at residences that had partial pipe replace- ments, Giani said. Only 7 tests found unacceptable levels of lead. In all but one of those cases, the high levels can be attributed to galvanized-steel plumbing, D.C. Water officials said. In another sign that the prob-


lem is receding, the number and proportion of children younger than 6 with high blood lead levels has been steadily decreasing. According to statistics provid-


ed by the city’s Department of the Environment, 236 of more than 20,000 children screened in 2004 had elevated blood lead levels. Last year, more than 16,000 chil- dren were screened, and 80 were found to have high blood lead


FBI talks to officers in Pr. George’s about beating


BY MATT ZAPOTOSKY FBI agents descended on the


homes of several Prince George’s County police officers Thursday night to interviewthem about the March incident in which three officers were videotaped beating an unarmed University of Mary- land student during a raucous celebration after a basketball game, the police chief confirmed. Chief Roberto L. Hylton said


one of his deputy chiefs informed him Thursday night that FBI agents were knocking on the doors of a “large number of offi-


cers” to interviewthem about the events that led to the March 3 beating of student JohnJ.McKen- na. Hylton said that as far as he knew, no one had been arrested. Maj. Andrew Ellis, the public


affairs commander for county po- lice, said agents planned to talk to as many as 40 officers Thursday night and Friday morning. It has longbeenknownthat the


FBI was among those investigat- ing the incident, but Thursday night’s action shows that the case might be coming to a head. Three officers linked to the beating re- main on suspension or desk duty. zapotoskym@washpost.com


levels. ACapitolHill father is pressing


ahead with a lawsuit on behalf of his twin sons, contending that their health problems could be connected to high levels of lead in the city’s water from 2001 to 2004. Katherine Leong, one of the


attorneys for the father, John Parkhurst, said: “We still remain concerned about the health of the children in D.C.” She questioned Hawkins’s as-


sertion that ongoing monitoring by the agency suggests there is not a crisis. “They issued the same statement when the lead was elevated in D.C.,” Leong said. “I’ma little skeptical.” craigt@washpost.com


marimowa@washpost.com


Staff writers Carol Morello and Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.


EZ SU


B5


EVY MAGES FOR THE WASHINGTON POST


Work on the EasternAvenue bridge is done for the most part, but the 35-mph limit and the speed cameras remain. Some minor work and closures continue, an official said, so the cameras have stayed put.


Speed cameras still needed at D.C. 295 site, officials say


cameras from B1


enforcement has reduced the number of crashes. “We’re hoping to use these


speed cameras more often,” said Assistant Police Chief Patrick Burke, citing accidents such as the June death of a highway worker in a work zone in nearby Anne Arundel County. “This is to keep people safe.” The Eastern Avenue bridge


over D.C. 295 reopened in late October, less than 10 months after it closed for a complete reconstruction. The project pro- ceeded quickly because large sec- tions of the bridge were precast and trucked to the site. The $10.4 million project, which provides higher clearancesonthe roadand is designed to improve traffic flow at EasternAvenue,wasfund- ed by federal stimulus money. After dealing with the con-


struction delays, drivers are eager to put the work behind them. John Townsend, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said the cam- eras could undermine support for the city’s speed camera program. In poll after poll, he said, drivers


express opposition to them. “We would agree that no one


should speed through a work zone, but it has to be a legitimate work zone,” Townsend said. “You have to balance the need for safety with being fair.” Nick Lewis, aUPSworker from


Arlington, said he was returning from Baltimore-Washington In- ternational Marshall Airport on Saturday morning when he saw the camera flash in his rearview mirror. “Everyone slams on their


brakes when they see the signs, and the camera goes off like a machine gun,” Lewis said. “With- in 200 yards, it goes back to 45 miles per hour. That’s larceny.” From mid-August — when a month-long grace period ended and real enforcement began—to the end of October, 14,929 tickets were generated by the cameras at the D.C. 295 work zone, police said. Results for November are not available. Drivers going a few miles over the 35 mph speed limit are gener-


ally not ticketed, but Burke de- clined to say what the threshold is. In Maryland, where a law on the use of speed cameras in work zones and school zones passed last year, camera images can only be used for those caught going 12 mph over the speed limit. Virgin- ia does not allow speed cameras. “We’re not picking people off


for going a fewmiles over,” Burke said. “It’s common practice to give people some leeway and not to ticket for going 5, 6, 7 miles per hour over the limit.” D.C. work zone fines are $300


for going 16 to 20 mph over the speed limit;$400for 21 to 25mph over; and $500 for 26 mph or more. But there is some relief for


drivers traveling the stretch in question: The cameras only issue tickets from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., when workers are present, Burke said. At other times, the cameras are deactivated, he said. So afternoon rush-hour racers are usually off the hook.


kravitzd@washpost.com


NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE APPLICATION OF WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY


FOR APPROVAL OF A SAVE PLAN AND RIDER CASE NO PUE-2010-00087


On August 4, 2010, Washington


Gas Light Company ("Washington Gas" or "Company")filed with the State Corporation Commission ("Commission") its Application of Washington Gas Light Company For approval of Plan pursuant to Chapter 26 of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia §§ 56-603 et seq. -Steps to Advance Virginia'sEnergy Plan ("SAVE")Act ("Application"). Supplemental testimony and exhibits were filed on October 25, 2010. In the Application, the Company proposes to recover approximately $116.5million in anticipated expenditures for replacement of facilities in 2010-2014. Recovery would be through arider on customers' bills as authorized by the SAVE Act, 2010 Va. Acts ch. 142, ch. 514 codified as Chapter 26 (§ 56-603 et seq.) of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia.


The SAVE Act provides for the recov-


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ery of the costs of replacinggas utility infrastructure not otherwise recovered through rates previously approved by the Commission or through revenues from new customers who connect to the utility. The projects proposed in the Company's Application are the replacement of bare and unprotected steel services and mains, replacement of mechanically coupled pipe, and enhancements in computer programs.


The Company anticipates that the


SAVE rider will be applied to meter readings beginning in 2011. The Company projects that the SAVE rider would add $4.48 per year to the typical residential customer's bill in 2011.


A public hearing on the Application


shall be convened at 10:00 a.m. on March 8, 2011, in the Commission's Courtroom, Second Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive into the record the testimony under oath of public witnesses and the evidence of Washington Gas, any respondents, and the Commission Staff.


Any person desiring to testify as a


public witnessshould appear at the hearing location fifteen (15) minutes before the starting time on the day of the hearing and contact the Commission's Bailiff.


Individuals with disabilities who require


an accommodation to participate in the hearing should contactthe Commission at least seven (7) daysbefore the scheduled hearing date at 1-800-552-7945 (voice)or 1-804-371-9206 (TDD).


The Company'sApplication, Commission orders, and all documents filed in Case No. PUE-2010-00087 may be inspected in the Commission's Document Control Center, Office of the Clerk of the Commission, First Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia, between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on regular business days.


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GHI If you don’t get it, you don’t get it. S087 2x6 The Application, the unofficial text of


the Commission'sorders, and othermate- rials may be viewedatthe Commission's website,http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case, by clicking the "DocketSearch" function and entering the case number, PUE-2010-00087,in the appropriate box.


The Company will provide to anyone


who requests, and at no charge, a copy of the Application and all testimony, exhibits, and schedules filed with the


Application upon request to counsel to the Company, Meera Ahamed, Esquire, Washington Gas Light Company, 101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20080. The copy of the Application and all testimony, exhibits, and schedules filed with the Application may be provided on electronic storage medium or in electronic form, if agreeable to the person making the request.


On or before March 1, 2011, any inter-


ested person may file written comments on the Application with Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/oDocument Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. Compact disks or any other form of elec- tronic storage medium may not be filed with written comments. All comments shall refertoCase No. PUE-2010-00087. Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically may do so on or before March 1, 2011, by following the instructions found on the Commission's website,http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case, andclicking "Public Comments/Notices." Persons commenting electronically need not file comments in writing.


Any person or entity may participate


in this proceedingasarespondent as provided by the Commission'sRules of Practice and Procedure, specifically 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, and the requirements set by the Commission'sOrder for Notice and Hearing entered in this proceeding. On or before December 20,2010,arespondent must file an original and fifteen (15) copies of a notice of participation with Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/oDocument Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. In the alternative, the notice may be filed electronically as provided by 5VAC 5-20-140 of the Commission'sRules of Practice and Procedure. A copy of the notice of participation simultaneously shall be served on counsel to the Company, Meera Ahamed, Esquire, Washington GasLight Company, 101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20080.


Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B of the Commission'sRules of Practice and Procedure, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization,corporation, or government body participating as arespondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5VAC 5-20-30 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.


The Commission'sRules of Practice


and Procedure may be viewed at: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. A printed copy of the Rules of Practice and Procedure and an official copy of the Commission'sOrder for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118.


WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY


Being 10 in 2010


Wars, global warming,


unemployment…. Does the magic of childhood still exist? The answer, straight from the mouths of some local 10-year-olds,


is in The Magazine.


Arts&Style The Honorees: Revealing profiles of this year’s class of Kennedy Center honorees: Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman and Bill T. Jones.


Travel


Anight in Lockhouse 49: If you ever dreamed of stepping back in time for an overnight stay in the 1800s, one of the old lockhouses along the C&O Canal that are open to guests might be for you.


Outlook


Cell phone danger? How dangerous are cell phones to your health? Very, argue two new books that we review.


Sports


A Giant challenge: What will it take for the Redskins to pick up some momentum with a win? Our game day preview breaks it down.


Some stories may not run due to breaking news.


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