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Department of Ecology News Release - March 21, 2008
08-073
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has added more than 40 sites in 18 counties to its list of hazardous sites planned for cleanup.
As part of its twice-a-year update of contaminated sites in Washington, Ecology included 45 newly assessed sites on the cleanup list. The sites include commercial, industrial and residential land.
“We continue to build on the state’s successful cleanup record and to work with landowners to rid the state of its worst contamination,” said Jim Pendowski, manager of Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program. “Our work protects people and the environment, and helps return land to productive uses, such as economic development, recreation, and improved public access.”
In Washington, more than 10,000 toxic sites have been identified. More than 80 percent of the sites have been cleaned up or are now being cleaned up. The rest are awaiting action.
Pendowski said the list continues to grow because more site investigations are being done as Ecology works to accelerate its cleanup efforts throughout the state.
Cleanup is required whenever toxic contamination is above limits set in the state’s Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), a 1989 citizen initiative that established a broad-based program for cleaning up and preventing toxic contamination.
Because resources are limited, contaminated sites are ranked according to the risks they pose to people and the environment. The properties on Ecology’s list of hazardous sites are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. A rank of 1 represents the highest level of concern.
Ranks do not necessarily reflect the severity of contamination. They are based on a site’s location and the potential paths through which humans and sensitive environments could be exposed to the hazardous substances. For example, a site with a 1 ranking may have less contamination or less-hazardous contaminants than lower-ranked sites, but the risk of exposure is higher and cleanup needs to happen quicker.
The latest list update includes five sites with a 1 ranking – three in Pierce County, and one each in Jefferson and Thurston counties.
MTCA specifies that those responsible for polluting a site must pay for its cleanup. The state pays for cleanup only when a liable person cannot be found or when identified liable parties can’t afford to pay for the work.
The hazardous-sites list is updated in February and August each year. Following are the newly added sites for February 2008. They are listed by their official site names and by the nearest city; ranks are noted in parentheses:
Site assessments determined no further action is required at 18 locations:
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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/cleanup.html
Hazardous Sites List for February 2008 and previous lists:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/mtca_gen/hazsites.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
