DOEE Secures $200,000 to the Air Quality Pollution Program for Violations of the District’s Air Quality Regulations

DOEE Secures $200,000 to the Air Quality Pollution Program for Violations of the District’s Air Quality Regulations

WASHINGTON, DC, May 5, 2025 — DOEE announces an $850,000 settlement with MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) for ten violations of the District’s air quality regulations. These violations include installation and modification of equipment without permits, failed emissions (stack) testing, failure to comply with reporting requirements, and failure to submit its annual compliance certification. Under the terms of the agreement, MWHC will pay $200,000 to the District’s Air Quality Construction Permits Fund, complete $140,000 worth of Supplemental Environmental Projects, install a facility-wide compliance tracking system, and decrease their CO2 emissions through the installation of a Blow Down Heat Recovery system.

Supplemental Environmental Projects are projects included in an enforcement settlement that provide a tangible environmental or public health benefit to the community. Under these Supplemental Environmental Projects, District residents will receive many benefits, including:

· Improved Public Health of the Surrounding Community: Funding for the IMPACT DC pediatric asthma clinic at Children’s National Medical Center; a community event to educate the community on the importance of environmental health; and the distribution of air purifiers at the community event.

· Restoration of the Local Environment: Funding for repair and expansion of the Ward 5 tree canopy through a donation to Casey Trees, a local non-profit organization focused on restoring, enhancing, and protecting the District’s tree canopy.

· Prevention of Future Pollution: Installing “No Engine Idling” signs across the medical campus and distributing them to the community.

“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the District’s air quality regulations and ensuring that we all can breathe clean air. It is a privilege to see DOEE’s mission to improve the quality of life for District residents and our environment in practice,” said DOEE Director Richard Jackson.

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