Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Ecology launches new blog

This week, we launched a completely redesigned and streamlined blog — ecology.wa.gov/blog.
As the state’s environmental protection agency, we're recognized for our work to protect and restore Washington’s environment. Over the past 10 years, our blog has become a well-known source of environmental stories that are engaging, educational, and enlightening.
“The new format really showcases powerful visuals that engage visitors,” said our Web Manager Jonathan Szczur. “It’s a compelling way to help Washingtonians learn about the issues affecting the environment today.”
Whether you’re a long-time subscriber or a first-time reader, we encourage you to visit the new site, bookmark it, and subscribe to have news delivered to your inbox.
The newly-designed blog follows in the footsteps of Ecology’s recently redesigned website. Both now provide the highest level of accessibility for all users. The blog adjusts to different screen sizes, making it easy to view from desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. The clean design meets accessibility standards for people of all abilities.
“This new design was built to provide our audience with a seamless experience, regardless of device. We wanted to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for our visitors to find content relevant to them,” Szczur said.
On the blog, you’ll find stories rich in visuals, videos, and audio pieces.
Visit the new blog at ecology.wa.gov/blog.

Friday, January 24, 2020

Fecal Matters: No-contact advisory issued for Port Washington Narrows and Sinclair Inlet, Kitsap County

BEACH program update

red sign with no swimming symbol: Closed High bacteria levels in this water may cause illness.  Other beach activities permitted. Washington Beach Program
Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Port Washington Narrows and Sinclair Inlet in effect through January 29th. This is due to an approximately 82,400 gallon sewage spill from Bremerton Public Works. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.


Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.

Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.

Cleaning up: How a light rail project keeps a landfill site on track

How do you build light rail and widen a freeway along the edge of a well-managed former municipal waste landfill? Very carefully! 

And, with plenty of cooperation among public agencies.

We’re working to do exactly that with Sound Transit, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).

Grassy land slopes from left to right to a freeway on the right. Above these, in the background, are green trees and a partly cloudy sky.
A grassy meadow covers the Midway Landfill, next to the I-5 freeway southbound lanes between Seattle and Tacoma. White pipes behind the fence are part of the system to collect landfill gas, given off by decomposing municipal solid waste below.

The site: a former landfill

The City of Seattle’s 60-acre Midway Landfill site adjoins the west side of I-5 in Kent. The landfill closed in 1983. Under our oversight, and review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SPU:
  •  Covered the landfill with an engineered, multilayered waterproof cap and a top layer of grass.
  • Installed a gas extraction system to control methane generated by material in the landfill.
  • Controlled surface water.
  • Fenced the landfill to limit access to the site.

These protective elements have been in place since 1992. SPU continues to monitor groundwater quality and landfill gas at the site, under a legal agreement with us, last updated in 2006.

A map shows the landfill in the center, with the freeway just to the right. A double yellow line shows the future path of light rail along the freeway at the landfill's edge. A red line shows the landfill boundaries. A blue line shows the work area for light rail construction.
Sound Transit will build light rail on the landfill's east side,
along I-5's southbound lanes. (Click or tap image to enlarge.)

Transportation projects

Two planned south King County transportation projects will run half a mile through the eastern edge of the landfill. Sound Transit plans to extend its Link light rail line from Angle Lake to Federal Way. WSDOT plans to widen a stretch of I-5 as part of its SR 509 Completion Project.  Preparation of the landfill for the two projects will be combined into a single project called FWLE/SR 509 Midway. FWLE stands for Federal Way Link Extension.

FWLE/SR 509 Midway will bring changes to the site. We’re developing legal agreements and engineering plans with all three parties – SPU, WSDOT and Sound Transit -- to ensure that the site’s environmental and public health and safety measures continue to function during and after construction.

The combined project will involve excavating some of the landfilled municipal waste, and will affect the landfill cap, the gas collection system, and surface water monitoring network. Because of this, we’re requiring:
  • Transfer of excavated municipal waste to an authorized landfill.
  • Restoration of disturbed portions of the landfill cap and other infrastructure.
  • Documentation of all required work for our review and approval.

Some of the site’s land ownership will change. Sound Transit will acquire part of a strip – for the light rail tracks – that now belongs to WSDOT and will assume responsibility for maintaining that portion of the landfill cap. Seattle will continue to operate surface water controls, the gas extraction system, and the ongoing monitoring program.

Plans and agreements available

We’re asking the public to review and comment on four documents that will govern how the FWLE/SR 509 project will be built, and how the site will be reconfigured:
  • Consent Decree Amendment:  update to our existing legal agreement with SPU.
  • Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree:  new legal agreement between us and Sound Transit.
  • Cleanup Action Plan Amendment:  describes actions we will require to maintain the integrity of the site’s protective elements during and after the proposed construction.
  • Public Participation Plan: explains how people can participate in the cleanup process.

Grassy land slopes from right to left toward a freeway on the left. Trees and a blue sky with a few clouds are in the background
Looking south across the Midway Landfill where it adjoins I-5.

Comments invited; public meeting planned

The comment period begins on Jan. 27 and concludes on Feb. 25, 2020. Comment online or mail comments to: Mark Adams, Site Manager; Dept. of Ecology; 3190 160th Ave. SE; Bellevue WA, 98008-5452.

We’re also inviting the public to a meeting and hearing. We, SPU, Sound Transit and WSDOT will give a short presentation and answer questions about the site and the projects. There will be time for giving oral comments.
  •  Tue., Feb. 11, 2020; 7 - 9 p.m.
  • Des Moines Elementary School, 23801 16th Ave. S.
  • Interpreter services will be available in Spanish, Korean, and Somali.
 We’ll review and respond to all comments received. We expect the new plans and agreements to be in place by mid-2020.

By Larry Altose, communications manager, Northwest Regional Office

More information