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Department of Ecology News Release - October 6, 2009
09-245
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) finalized an agreement today that provides up to $230,000 to Port Angeles in Puget Sound Initiative funds for two major projects to help plan for the community's future.
The agreement provides funds for integrating the city's combined sewer overflow project with the cleanup of the former Rayonier mill property. It also helps the community continue the visioning process it began in 2007 and expands it to include the entire harbor area.
“We're pleased to be able to support the city in its efforts to restore Port Angeles Harbor,” said Rebecca Lawson, regional manager for Ecology's Toxic Cleanup Program. “This was a unique opportunity to help the city align its vision for the Port Angeles harbor with restoring Puget Sound.”
Specific objectives and allowable charge back costs are defined in the agreement.
Port Angeles is currently under order from Ecology to eliminate by 2015 the release of untreated sewage that happens when heavy rainfall overwhelms the city's stormwater system. Stormwater and sewage combine before reaching the city's treatment plant, and the mixture sometimes overflows into the Strait during storms.
The city is investigating whether integrating Rayonier's unused tank into the city's stormwater system could be part of the long-term solution. Any work on the Rayonier property will require the city to take precautions for dealing with historic contamination from the mill's former operations.
Ecology provided Port Angeles with $50,000 through a 2007 interagency agreement. The city used that funding for a community-wide visioning process around cleanup and redevelopment of the former Rayonier mill property. This agreement helps the city continue the planning work for future harbor development that began two years ago.
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Media Contacts: Kim Schmanke, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6239 (desk)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
