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Draft Environmental Impact Statement released SEATTLE—A draft environmental impact statement released today outlines the environmentally preferred alternatives for disposing of an estimated 10 million cubic yards of toxic sediments at the bottom of Puget Sound that are fouling valuable marine life habitat and stifling economic development. The draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Ecology, is the first stage of a three-year Puget Sound Confined Disposal Study. The project is aimed at finding a solution to the sediment disposal problem. Official public comment on the document is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, and a series of public meetings will be held in March. The draft PEIS is available for public review in libraries throughout the Puget Sound region. "Degraded aquatic habitat, endangered species listings and economic growth make the need to clean up contaminated sediments more urgent than ever," said Steve Martin, Corps biologist and project manager. "This EIS will help us find a way to dispose of those sediments in an environmentally sound and cost effective way." The study estimates that as much as 10 million cubic yards of sediment in Puget Sound contain harmful chemicals and need to be dredged during the next 20 years. That’s enough volume to fill about 1 million dump trucks holding 10 cubic yards each. In addition, the study reveals that two-thirds of known contaminated sediments in Puget Sound are in the central part of the Sound, including Seattle and Bremerton. This is the region with the greatest contaminated sediment disposal need and the logical focus for development of a disposal site. The agencies are looking for safe and cost effective ways to manage contaminated sediment by "confining" and isolating it from the rest of the environment. Many chemicals are flushed into our waterways from industry, storm drains, yards and even undeveloped land. Some of these chemicals tend to bind to and build up in the sediment found at the bottom of ocean bays, estuaries, rivers and lakes. Contaminated sediment can be harmful to aquatic plants and animals. It can accumulate in the tissues of bottom-dwelling organisms, move through the food chain to concentrate in fish and shellfish, and pose significant risks to human health. --more-- A Multi-User Disposal Site — MUDS— located in or near the Sound would greatly increase the region’s ability to maintain harbors, clean up contaminated sediments, restore vital marine habitat and develop waterfront property. After reviewing public comment, the agencies will select one or more preferred alternatives for disposal of contaminated sediments and will likely prepare a Site-Specific EIS and Feasibility Report. The Corps and the state, represented by the departments of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, signed a cost sharing agreement in July 1997 that began the Puget Sound Confined Disposal Site Study. The draft PEIS is the first phase of that study. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Public Ports Association are also cooperating in this three-year, $3.5 million planning effort. The Corps and the state are sharing costs of the study with funds appropriated by Congress and the state legislature. The draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement will be available for review at the following libraries: • Bainbridge Island Library, 1271 Madison Ave. North, Bainbridge Island • Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 - 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue • Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave., Bellingham • Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave., Everett • Oak Harbor Public Library, 7030 70th N.E., Oak Harbor • Renton Public Library, 100 Mill Ave. South, Renton • Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., Seattle • Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma The Corps and state of Washington are seeking extensive public involvement early and throughout the study. For more information or to be added to a project mailing list, call Steve Martin (Corps) at 206-764-3631 (stephen.g.martin@nws.usace.army.mil) or Tom Gries (State of Washington) at 360-407-7536 (tgri461@ecy.wa.gov) or look up the Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/smu/muds.htm. |