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City of Seattle
Mike McGinn, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: City of Seattle, King County Announce Plans to Clean up, Improve Fish Habitat in Duwamish Superfund Site Slip 4
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/29/2006 12:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sheila Strehle, Seattle Public Utilities, 206.684.5846
Annie Kolb-Nelson, King County/METRO, 206.263.6157
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City of Seattle, King County Announce Plans to Clean up, Improve Fish Habitat in Duwamish Superfund Site Slip 4
Cleanup plan has community, EPA support
SEATTLE-Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims today announced a plan to clean up sediment contamination and create a more fish-friendly environment at Slip 4, a Superfund cleanup site along the east side of the Lower Duwamish Waterway in Georgetown. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the cleanup plan, and community stakeholders have expressed support for the plan.
"The Duwamish creates jobs, opportunity and is an integral part of Seattle neighborhoods and the environment. This cleanup will make the Duwamish healthier and create a refuge for salmon migrating through the river," said Nickels.
"We're working together to help restore the Duwamish for future generations. Cleaning up Slip 4 now is an important step in making sure this waterway becomes healthier and remains a vital link to our community and our economy," said Sims.
Slip 4 is part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site and is one of several Waterway areas scheduled for early cleanup while an investigation is underway to determine cleanup needs along other parts of the Waterway. This "early action" approach focuses on areas already identified as needing cleanup, rather than waiting years until the extensive Superfund investigations are completed.
"This cleanup plan is the result of more than a year of community involvement, and helps realize our vision of a healthy, vibrant Duwamish in Georgetown," said Tom Knoblauch, a member of Georgetown Community Council. "We're happy that the EPA approved the cleanup plan."
Under the plan, 14,000 cubic yards of river and bank sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) will be removed from the bottom of the waterway at the site, which is about three miles south of Harbor Island. Remaining contamination will be contained with a specially engineered cover to keep it out of the waterway.
Polychlorinated biphenyls were banned in the 1970's because they have been shown to cause health problems for people and they stay in the environment for a long time.
The cleanup will create shallow fish habitat along the northern banks of the slip. Salmon migrating through the waterway will be able to feed and grow in the area before continuing their journey to Puget Sound.
"This cleanup recognizes that the Duwamish is vital to the community, the region's economy and for salmon and other species that rely on the river," said B.J. Cummings, director of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, the stakeholder group that advises the EPA about the Duwamish Superfund cleanup. "This plan shows that by working together, we can clean up the river, and ensure the Duwamish will be a thriving part of our region."
The cleanup is estimated to cost about $7.4 million. The City and King County will each pay half the costs of the cleanup. Construction is targeted to begin late next year.
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