Trump Approves FEMA Role in Repair of Collapsed DC Sewer Pipe

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it’s helping the District of Columbia clean up and make repairs after a section of sewer line collapsed last month, leading to a massive discharge of raw sewage into the Potomac River.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a public emergency over the collapse on Wednesday and asked President Donald Trump in a letter to declare a major disaster. She also asked the federal government to reimburse the city for costs related to the collapse.

The crisis began Jan. 19, when a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in neighboring Maryland ruptured, sending ...