Public Works - Page 2

DC ban on gas leaf blowers goes into effect January 2022.

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Gas is Out, Quiet is In

–Effective January 2022, gasoline-powered leaf blowers cannot be legally used in the District of Columbia by residents or businesses and District retailers will no longer be permitted to sell them. Businesses risk being fined for continued use. The Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act passed the DC Council unanimously and was enacted in 2018, at which time a three-year phase-out began.

The ban does not apply to federal workers on federal land. Countless studies have shown the pollution causing and health impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers. Unlike automobiles, two-stroke, gas-powered leaf blowers do not have catalytic converters; therefore, a large percentage of pollutants go into the atmosphere. This law will help keep our community and city quieter and healthier.    

Leaf Collection Schedule

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The DC Department of Public Works has announced its leaf season collection schedule for 2021-2022.

The estimated pick-up periods for the Penn Branch neighborhood are November 29 to December 4 (first pick up) and January 10 to January 15 (second pick up). Residents are asked to rake leaves into the nearest tree box the Sunday­ before the scheduled pick up. Leaves should not be raked into the street or into city or federal parkland. You can find more information on the DC leaf season pick up schedule at the following link: https://dpw.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpw/service_content/attachments/2021-2022%20Leaf%20Brochure.pdf

Power in Penn Branch Park

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This week we received official notice that PEPCO will soon install two electrical outlets in our very own 9-11 Memorial Park. This has been a 12-year effort led by Alberta Paul and others. Having electric will make our gateway community park a well-lit, more inviting gathering place.  Also, we are asking everyone to donate an hour of time between 9am and 12pm, on Saturday, May 15th to help clean the park and plant new shrubs donated to us from the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS). Remember to bring your tools and extra lawn and leaf bags!

Also, we offer special thanks to our community donors.  Penn Branch residents contributed over $500 to support the restoration and replacement of the bench in 9-11 Memorial Park. We wish to thank the following residents for their kind financial donations to help us replace the bench in 9-11 Memorial Park:

  • Mary Ann Smith
  • Alberta Paul
  • Leroy Owens
  • Donald & Barbara Harrison
  • Joan McKenzie
  • Marie Fritz
  • Tracey Grant
  • Rosemary Crockett
  • Dawn Moore
  • Maria Samuda

Can’t join us on Saturday, May 15th? Make a donation!

Mail your donation to:

PBCA

P.O. Box 6730

Washington, DC  20020-2325

Or Visit:

www.pennbranchdc.org/donate

Pope Branch Restoration Project Update

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We’re pleased to say that the restoration of Pope Branch Stream is expected to be completed in November 2016.  The Pope Branch tributary stream starts near Fort Davis Drive, runs through Penn Branch (Texas Avenue) and flows to the Anacostia and drains to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.  The stream had become an eyesore, polluted by stormwater runoff, leaking sewer pipes, trash, and stagnate  water and mosquitos.  But thanks to the restoration project,  we will soon be proud of our community stream.

The restoration project completed by DC Water and Sewer will provide residents with scenic views, and more importantly, will reduce the sediment load carried to the Anacostia river, and provide a in-stream habit for resident fish and other wildlife.  The entire project will restore the ecological value of Pope Branch stream and floodplain area.

The multiple construction entrances and 3200 linear feet of access road have been completed at Texas Ave, 35th St. and M.  Eighty percent of construction for restoration design features are complete; specifically, shallow places in the stream where the water runs fast and is agitated by rocks, pools, boulder walls, gravel bottoms and small hills of sand constructed with an estimated 1600 tons of natural stream bed material, such as clean sand, gravel, cobble, and boulders.

We will soon have a beautiful community stream, and we thank DC Water and Sewer for keeping us updated and responding to our inquires during the project.

 

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