Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Around the Sound: Come talk about Everett waterfront cleanups

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

Staff from Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program will be in Everett on Feb. 16, 2011, to talk with Everett-area residents our cleanup sites around Port Gardner Bay.

You’re invited to take part. The meeting will be in the Snohomish Public Utility District No.1 auditorium, 2320 California St. An open house will start at 6 p.m., followed by a 6:30 p.m. presentation and an informal question-and-answer session.

We will talk about all 10 Puget Sound Initiative sites around Port Gardner. We will focus on the Everett Shipyard site, because we’re starting a public comment period on draft investigation and cleanup reports for that site.

Here’s a full news release, which details how to review and submit comments on the Everett Shipyard reports. You can send comments to Ecology from Thursday (Feb. 10, 2011) through March 14.

The Port of Everett owns the Everett Shipyard site, which ESY Inc. and its predecessors operated for about 60 years before shutting down in September 2009. The site is located within the Port Gardner Wharf project boundaries along West Marine View Drive.

Metals, petroleum products, anti-fouling agents and other substances contaminate the site. Sandblast grit from sandblasting marine vessels, leaks and spills from former tanks, stormwater runoff, boat washing, and maintenance and other shipyard activities likely caused the pollution.

Port Gardner Bay is a high-priority, “early-action” cleanup area under the Puget Sound Initiative. That’s an effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agricultural and environmental communities, scientists, and the public to restore and protect the health of the Sound.

Under the initiative, Ecology is managing or assisting with the cleanup of 10 Port Gardner sites contaminated with gasoline, diesel fuel, metals, and other substances. An Ecology team is working with the Port of Everett, other site owners, area tribes, and others to help shape the cleanups.

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