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Department of Ecology News Release - October 7, 2008
08-274
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Port of Olympia (Port) are entering an agreement to allow the Port to remove a portion of dioxin-contaminated sediment from two shipping berths later this year.
The public can review and comment on this plan from Oct. 7 through Nov. 7, 2008, and attend an informational meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Washington Middle School, 3100 Cain Road SE.
Ecology considers this an interim cleanup action that benefits the environment and the Port’s need to maintain appropriate depths of its berths. Ecology is helping the Port design a work plan that protects human health and the environment.
The agreement also incorporates a pilot study and two years of monitoring that could guide how other dioxin contamination in Budd Inlet is addressed in the future.
The draft agreed order requires the Port to:
Dioxins were found in the Port’s shipping berth sediments two years ago when the Port was preparing for a maintenance dredge. A more extensive Ecology study showed dioxins throughout Budd Inlet at varying concentrations from the surface down several feet below the inlet’s floor.
Based on the study’s results, Ecology is continuing to investigate contamination in certain areas in Budd Inlet. Ecology will develop a cleanup strategy for Budd Inlet as part of its work to restore the health of Puget Sound.
Dioxins are a family of chemical compounds and found nearly everywhere in the environment. They are the byproduct of human and natural activities such as incineration, forest fires, certain types of chemical manufacturing and processing and other industrial processes. They can cause health problems depending upon the length and amount of exposure.
The public can access the draft agreed order and State Environmental Policy Act determination of non-significance Ecology’s offices in Lacey, the Lacey Timberland Library or by downloading from Ecology’s Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/budd_inlet/budd_inlet_hp.htm
Written comments should be sent to Lisa Pearson, Dept. of Ecology, PO Box 47775, Olympia, Washington, 98504-7775 or lpea461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 (desk) or 360-791-9830 (cell)
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/buddInlet/psi_buddInlet.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
