  |
|
|
WHAT ECOLOGY IS DOING: Ecology issues and monitors stormwater permits to cities, public districts and to some industrial sites. These permits regulate the way stormwater is handled so that pollutants are reduced as much as possible from what is discharged.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Find non-toxic alternatives to chemicals used around the house, like fertilizers and cleaners. Select water-based products instead of solvent-based products whenever possible. Use only as much of a product as you need: twice as much isn’t twice as effective. Fix the leaks under your vehicle and use recycled oil. Don't "top off" your tank at the gas pump. Garden organically. Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles the water. Dispose of products according to label directions or call the Hazardous Substance Information Line (1-800-633-7585).
More information on stormwater
Remember...It All Adds Up
DID YOU KNOW? More than 20 billion gallons of oil and hazardous chemicals are transported through Washington each year by ship, barge, pipeline, rail and road.
WHAT ECOLOGY IS DOING: Ecology focuses on preventing spills, on preparedness and, when spills do happen, on cleaning them up rapidly.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Report any spills to the Ecology office in the region where the spill took place.
More information on spills
Remember...It All Adds Up
WHAT ECOLOGY IS DOING: Ecology maintains an inventory of chemicals that manufacturers and other facilities store and discharge. This Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is one of the things that Ecology does to support the Community Right to Know. Your right to know about the chemical hazards in your community is protected by federal law.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Become educated about the toxics stored and released in your neighborhood. You can access the on line publication, 2004 Chemicals in Washington State, Summary Report to get information on which facilities in your community are either storing or releasing toxic materials. Be informed about public comment periods for industrial discharge permits. You can attend a public hearing or submit written comment on a permit for a discharge in your area.
If you have questions about hazardous or toxic materials in your community, you can phone the Hazardous Substances Education and Information Line at 1-800-633-7585, or you can send an e-mail to hsieo@ecy.wa.gov.
Remember...It All Adds Up
DID YOU KNOW? Women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children are most at risk from contaminants in fish. The Washington Department of Health has issued a state-wide fish advisory for mercury (a known nerve toxin) and specific fish advisories for 16 specific bodies of water.
The contaminants range from pesticides and flame retardants to PCB’s and lead. When contaminants settle in the sediments of waterways, small animals in the water become polluted and then the contaminants become concentrated as larger fish feed on them.
WHAT ECOLOGY IS DOING: Ecology is developing a comprehensive inventory of the primary sources of toxic chemicals, including PCBs, in Puget Sound in support of the recommendations of the Puget Sound Partnership. Phase one of this project is expected to be delivered in summer 2007. Currently, Ecology controls and oversees PCBs through the state and federal cleanup regulations and through monitoring of fish tissue, sediments and water.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Continue to eat fish as part of a healthy diet, be smart about how much you eat, and choose wisely which fish you eat. The Washington Department of Health has a guide to eating fish from Puget Sound. Be familiar with the Department of Health's advisories and make wise choices.
More information about mercury, a contaminant that shows up in fish
More information about PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls).
More information about fish and healthy nutrition
Remember...It All Adds Up
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
