U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, activated its Emergency Management Operations Center on Feb. 20 under Public Law 84-99, in support of the Washington, D.C. Emergency Declaration for Potomac Interceptor Collapse Response efforts.

Following interagency coordination and on-site assessments with local, state, and federal officials, Baltimore District executed an emergency contract on Feb. 21 focused on stormwater runoff management ahead of expected inclement weather. The rapid response effort allowed for mobilization prior to midnight, with crews initiating work at the Potomac Interceptor repair site by sunrise on Sunday, Feb. 22.  

Initial work includes construction of a catchment cofferdam that will address I-495 overpass runoff by diverting water away from DC Water pumping operations necessary to continue critical emergency repairs and prevent additional discharge into the Potomac River. Operations will later expand to mitigation of additional runoff areas in the vicinity of the spill to further reduce flow over contaminated areas during future precipitation and snow melt events.