Tacoma Smelter Plume 

Sign up for soil sampling 
Tacoma Smelter Plume interactive map
Information for Ruston area residents

For almost 100 years, the Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in Tacoma. Air pollution from the smelter settled on the surface soil over more than 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound basin. Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are still in the soil as a result of this pollution.

March 14 – April 29, 2013 Yard Cleanup Comment Period

Comment Period Information  Ecology needs your comments on a program to clean up soils in Ruston, west and north Tacoma, and southern Vashon-Maury Island.  To sign up for soil sampling, fill out a sampling access form.

Dirt Alert!

Arsenic and lead  can harm your health.  You can be exposed by accidentally ingesting or inhaling contaminated soil.  Children are especially at risk because they put dirty hands and toys in their mouths, and because their small bodies are still growing and developing. 
 
You can take simple Healthy Actions to protect yourself and your family from soil contamination.  Link to your local health department below for free brochures and services.

• Public Health—Seattle & King County
  
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
  
• Thurston County Public Health and Social Services

What is Ecology doing?

In 2009, the State of Washington received a settlement from Asarco, including $94 million to pay for cleanup of the Tacoma Smelter Plume.  For details on how Ecology plans to use the settlement to protect human health, see the Final Interim Action Plan.

Dirt Alert! How to protect your family from contaminated soil

Soil Safety Program Cleaning up play areas  at schools, childcares,  parks, camps, and multifamily housing

Yard Cleanup This fall, comment on a draft plan to clean up  yards in the most contaminated areas

Technical Assistance How to clean up your  property during development