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Department of Ecology News Release - August 21, 2007
07-240
OLYMPIA - Work starts this week on a study intended to characterize the health of Fidalgo Bay sediments.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has contracted with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) of Bothell to determine the nature and extent of potential sediment contamination. SAIC will collect samples during a three-week period scheduled to end Sept. 7. Ecology anticipates receiving the completed study in January 2008.
Ecology expects this study to provide information needed to make effective cleanup decisions for contaminated sites in Fidalgo Bay. The sampling work is part of the Puget Sound Initiative, a directive from Gov. Chris Gregoire to clean up and restore the health of Puget Sound by 2020. The Washington Legislature provided $238 million for Puget Sound cleanup and restoration in the 2007-09 state budget. Gov. Gregoire's plan will speed the cleanup of toxic chemicals, restore waterways and salmon habitat, and prevent sites from becoming more polluted and more complex, which would lead to even higher cleanup costs.
Among Puget Sound Initiative projects are several cleanups in or near Fidalgo Bay: the Cap Sante Marine site; the Dakota Creek Industries shipyard; a former Shell Oil tank farm; the former Scott Paper mill; the Pier 2 log haul-out site; Custom Plywood; and MJB Properties and Anacortes Marine Enterprises Inc. Cleanup of the former Whitmarsh Landfill bordering Padilla Bay also is included.
"Fidalgo Bay is an important aquatic ecosystem that we must protect. Both Fidalgo and Padilla bays are highly productive estuarine and marine habitats that support important natural resources such as eelgrass, herring, salmon, perch and crab nursery grounds," said Ted Benson, who is overseeing the sampling project for Ecology.
The Port of Anacortes, which owns some of the Fidalgo Bay sites, plans to begin work soon on a $5.3 million cleanup of contaminated soil in the Cap Sante area. Port officials expect to start around Oct. 1 and finish by mid-January 2008. An Ecology grant will help pay for the work.
Fuel leaks from underground storage tanks within yards of the Cap Sante boat basin were discovered in the early 1980s. At that time, the Port of Anacortes installed a petroleum recovery trench; two leaking tanks were removed and replaced. But contaminated soil remained. Port officials estimate up to 10 feet of soil will be removed from some sections of the affected area.
Other bays targeted for accelerated cleanup under the Puget Sound Initiative:
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Media contact: Seth Preston, 360-407-6848; e-mail spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
