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Department of Ecology News Release - May 9, 2008
08-119
OLYMPIA – Port Angeles-area residents and other interested parties are invited to review and comment during an open house on May 13 on state plans to investigate pollution in harbor sediments.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) plans to study sediments from the Port Angeles harbor to learn more about the type and extent of pollution there. The study will include information about how sediments and bottom currents move in the area, as well as human and environmental health risks the pollution may pose.
The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room J-47 at Peninsula College, 1502 East Lauridsen Blvd. Ecology staff will be on hand to answer questions and talk with people about the draft sampling and analysis plan, which explains where samples will be taken.
Port Angeles Harbor is one of seven Puget Sound bays identified by Ecology as a high-priority, “early-action” cleanup area under the Puget Sound Initiative. The initiative is a comprehensive effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agriculture and environmental groups, scientists and the public to restore and protect the Sound. Ecology is conducting similar bay-wide sediment studies in other early-action areas, including Port Gardner at Everett, Oakland Bay in Mason County, Fidalgo Bay at Anacortes and Budd Inlet at Olympia.
Funding from the initiative is being used to investigate sediment contamination and develop a cleanup strategy for the harbor. This project complements the work underway to fully investigate land and sediment contamination at the former Rayonier Mill site and at least three other sites also on the harbor.
The public comment period ends May 29, 2008. For those unable to attend the meeting, comments should be sent to the project manager, Cynthia Erickson: Ecology SWRO Toxics Cleanup Program PO Box 47775 Olympia, WA 985045-7775 Ceri461@ecy.wa.gov
The sampling plan and public participation plan can be found locally at the Port Angeles Public Library on South Peabody Street and at Peninsula College. They are also on Ecology’s Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/portAngelesHarborSed/paSed_hp.htm .
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 or kisc461@ecy.wa.gov
For more information Port Angeles: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/portAngeles/psi_portAngeles_bay.html
Puget Sound Initiative: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/overview/psi_baywide.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
