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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 1996
96-151
CONTACT:
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157, pager (360) 534-8590
Media Advisory
Department of Ecology Statement on People for Puget Sound Compliance Report
Olympia, WA -- The Department of Ecology and the People for Puget Sound share a common goal. We both are committed to a clean and vital Puget Sound. Citizen groups such as People for Puget Sound play an important role in keeping the public focused on threats to this priceless resource in our state.
Ecology has been working for many years with the shipyards, oil refineries and pulp mills to address pollution concerns. Thanks to the efforts of citizen groups and state and local governments, much progress has been made. In fact, our records show a 90-99% compliance rate among many of these key industries on the sound. Frankly, we believe these industries now are doing a pretty good job. For those businesses who fail to comply with our standards, we have taken action against them and will continue to do so if progress is not made.
That's why we are a little puzzled by the grades these firms received in the People for Puget Sound's Water Quality Compliance report. It seems to us that a 90-99% compliance rate ought to be a pretty good grade--not the barely passing grades listed in the report. Their criteria for grading ensures that virtually no business can be successful.
While we applaud People for Puget Sound's efforts to draw attention to industrial pollution sources, this report fails to point out a more serious threat to Puget Sound. The water pollution caused by urban and agricultural runoff, failing septic systems and clear cutting pose an even greater threat to the waters of Puget Sound. We urge the People for Puget Sound to include this growing threat in future evaluations.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
