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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 1997
97-151
Contact: Dave Nazy (206) 649-7258
Denise Clifford (360) 407-6160, or pager (360) 534-8589
Olympia, WA - Twenty-one homes left vacant in Northeast Everett because of high levels of arsenic in the soils around and under the homes are now being demolished by Asarco, Incorporated - - the company responsible for cleaning up the contamination. Demolition activities begin today and will continue throughout the month of September.
"Getting these homes demolished is a big step toward getting cleanup done on-site and restoring some normalcy to the neighborhood," said Dave Nazy, the Department of Ecology's site manager for the Everett Smelter Site. Asarco purchased the homes within the last few years to prevent residents from being exposed to arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Since then, the homes have sat vacant with a chain link fence surrounding the area.
The Washington Department of Ecology issued an enforcement order to Asarco last spring directing the company to demolish the homes as part of the overall cleanup of the Everett Smelter Site. The company was also directed to collect additional information about the contamination at the site and to prepare the site for final cleanup.
The smelter site is in a predominantly residential area in Northeast Everett that was once the location of a smelter. The smelter operated during the late 1800's and the early 1900's. In 1914 Asarco dismantled and demolished the smelter - - taking some of the equipment and materials to its Tacoma smelter. The company sold the property, and in the 1930's people began building homes in the area. Contamination was discovered in early 1990 and studies and interim cleanup activities have been occurring ever since.
"The homes being demolished are situated on the most contaminated area of the site," said Nazy. "Following demolition, Asarco will conduct additional activities within the demolition area to determine the volume and extent of the most contaminated materials."
Asarco continues to work with Ecology to complete other activities it agreed to that are part of the enforcement order issued last spring. These activities include developing a soil disposal program, evaluating environmental impacts of future cleanup actions, monitoring and controlling stormwater on the site, defining the site boundary through more soil sampling, and funding a Community Protection Measures Project Manager through the Snohomish Health District to provide education and information to area residents.
At the same time, Ecology, the City of Everett, Asarco, and several other organizations are preparing to enter a mediated process to outline a plan for final cleanup of the site. The group is now working together to hire a mediator. The group plans to begin mediation next month and complete the process by next spring.
Note to Media: To arrange for a media site visit during the demolition, please call Kathleen Deakins at (253) 627-9128. Because of potential demolition hazards public access is discouraged.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
