White House: federal aid for Potomac sewage spill requires formal state or local request

Reporters asked about a broken sewage pipe on the Potomac River and the federal government's response. "The next step in this process is for any of the three local jurisdictions involved — whether that's the Commonwealth of Virginia, the state of Maryland, or the District of Columbia — to step forward and to ask the federal government for help," the White House spokesperson said, adding that a formal Stafford Act request is necessary for the federal government to assume control of the local response.

The spokesperson said the White House has been in contact with FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency and that those agencies are "standing by" to assist once a formal request is made. She criticized Maryland Governor Wes Moore's handling of infrastructure and said federal involvement would be contingent on the governor or other local officials requesting help.

Why it matters: A large sewage spill in the Potomac could have environmental and public-health consequences for residents in the region and for events planned in Washington. The requirement that state or local officials request federal assistance is a legal threshold that determines when federal agencies can take the lead in response and cleanup.

The spokesperson said she would follow up and provide next steps after consulting with federal agencies.