Tacoma Smelter Plume: Tacoma Public Meeting Recap

By Jill Jacobson, Yard Program Outreach Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program

Last Thursday night, we held the last of three public meetings for the Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program Design and Implementation Plan in the cafeteria of Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma. We had a turnout of 25 people who came out to learn about yard sampling and cleanup in Tacoma neighborhoods.

Most people came from the Tacoma area to learn how to sign up for soil sampling. Here are a few of the common questions and answers that were discussed.

Can I receive soil sampling if my property is outside the service area?

If your property is outside of the service area but nearby in King or Pierce County, we can sign you up to receive soil sampling. For more information, contact Jill Jacobson, Outreach Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program at Jill.Jacobson@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6245.

How can I find out if my property is located in the service area and when you will begin work in my area?

You can view the map to the right to determine if your property is located within the service area. Please read page 3 of the Frequently Asked Questions to find out when we will most likely begin work in your area.

Technical Workshop Recap

Before the open house, about 12 people attended the technical workshop to learn more about the science behind Ecology's decisions. Here are a few of the topics we discussed:

• How did Ecology determine the service area?
• How did Ecology choose 90 ppm arsenic as the threshold for action?
• What will soil sampling look like and what tools will Ecology use?
• What are the health effects of arsenic and lead?

You can find answers to these questions in our yard program design and implementation plan.

Comment Period Ends on April 29th, 2013

Please send your written comments on the yard program design to Amy Hargrove, Remediation Manager, at P.O. Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504-7775 or Amy.Hargrove@ecy.wa.gov. Check our comment period page for more information.

Sign up: If your property is within the Tacoma Smelter Plume service area, sign up for soil sampling by completing the sampling access agreement. Return this form to Jill Jacobson, Outreach Coordination, P.O. Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504-7775 or Jill.Jacobson@ecy.wa.gov.

Contact Hannah Aoyagi at Hannah.Aoyagi@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6790 to make sure you are on the mailing list for updates and announcements.

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