Around the Sound: Train derails near Sound, plus other news

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

I have some catching up to do on recent Puget Sound news since I was traveling during last week’s “Snowpocalypse.” (But that’s another story.)

Train derailment near Chambers Bay

First, here’s the latest from the News Tribune in Tacoma about a train derailment close to Puget Sound in Pierce County. About 50 gallons of sodium hydroxide (lye) spilled onto the shoreline, but emergency responders said the material didn’t reach Sound waters.

And here is a sampling of more weekend coverage of the incident from KING TV and KPLU Radio.

Other news around the sound

• Today (Monday, Feb. 28), Ecology is opening public comment periods related to two Port Gamble cleanup sites. Port Gamble Bay is a high-priority area under the Puget Sound Initiative. Our Toxics Cleanup Program team will be in Port Gamble on March 9 to talk about the cleanups – see this news release for details on the meeting and the comment periods.
  
  On a related note, Chris Dunagan of the Kitsap Sun posted this blog entry about plans for developing the Port Gamble area.
  
  
• Dunagan also has a post about the naming of a new director for People for Puget Sound, an environmental group. Here is the organization’s own news release on the selection.
  
  
• Finally, John Dodge of The Olympian offers this portrait of the late Justin Taylor, who launched one of the Sound’s most influential shellfish operations.

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