Dust isn’t just a nuisance. It can cause severe air quality problems especially in Eastern Washington where hot, dry weather can make soils vulnerable to extreme windstorms. Dust storms can make it difficult to breathe and impair vision causing driving risks.
Satellite imagery shows dust suspended in the air over Eastern Washington during a severe wind storm.
In an effort to prevent soil erosion and windblown dust from farmland, we’re partnering with the Benton County Conservation District to provide incentives for air-friendly farming practices in three Eastern Washington counties.
We’ve awarded the district a one-time grant of $163,000, to make available to farmers who want to convert land currently in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to active production using “low disturbance” farming practices.
Many farms currently enrolled in CRP in Klickitat, Benton and Franklin counties aren’t likely to be eligible for re-enrollment this year. We recognize the valuable environmental protection that CRP has provided and want to work with farms to keep soil where it belongs -- on farms.
Qualifying low disturbance options could include:
Direct seed equipment drive seeds right into the ground, reducing the need to stir up soil and exposing it to wind.
Direct seed or mulch-tilling
Livestock and/or hay production
Enrolling land in conservation easements
Providing wildlife habitat
Low disturbance farming practices don’t just benefit air quality by preventing dust. Methods like direct seed can reduce the amount of field tilling and improve soil health by increasing organic matter and earthworm activity. Less tilling also results in a significant reduction in fossil fuel use and keeps carbon sequestered in the soil.
For more information or to determine if you might qualify for the incentive contact your local conservation district:
La mayoría de Washington Oriental tiene la tendencia de soplar polvo, y esto es un problema significante para la contaminación del aire. El polvo puede causar peligros para la salud y para manejar cuando altos niveles de partículas están suspendidas en el aire. Nosotros monitoreamos y seguimos la contaminación de polvo en el estado de Washington para asegurar que el estado cumple con los estándares federales de aire para proteger la salud de la gente.
En 14 de Agosto, 2015, vientos fuertes abrumaron controles de erosión agrícola y causó fuertes tormentas de polvo, resultando en altos niveles de contaminación por partículas que fueron registrados en nuestros monitores de calidad del aire.
Nosotros hemos desarrollado un reporte solicitando que la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA en inglés) de los Estados Unidos excluya los datos recolectados durante este evento de los cálculos que son usados para determinar si la región cumple con las Normas Nacionales de Calidad del Aire porque fue un evento excepcional.
Un evento excepcional es un evento inusual o natural que puede afectar la calidad del aire, pero no puede ser controlado razonablemente. Si los vientos fuertes hacen que las lecturas del monitor de calidad del aire superen el límite federal, y la EPA acepta que las lecturas están fuera de nuestro control, y cumple con otros criterios requeridos, la causa de la lectura alta puede ser considerada un evento excepcional.
Revisar El Reporte y Enviar Comentarios
El reporte demuestra que el evento de viento fuerte fue un evento excepcional y concluye que los vientos fueron:
· Causados por la naturaleza.
· Causados por altos niveles de contaminación por partículas.
· Abrumaron las medidas de control de polvo que están establecidas en toda la zona.
Ve el reporte en nuestra página de polvo al aire libre. Se puede enviar comentarios en línea o por correo a Caroline (Ying) Sun, Departamento de Ecología, programa de calidad del aire, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504.
Más Gestión del Polvo
En los próximos meses, centraremos más esfuerzos para reducir el polvo en áreas cerca de Kennewick y Wallula porque estas áreas son propensas a soplar el polvo. Esta área ha sido identificada en una regla federal, y tenemos que desarrollar un plan para controlar el polvo.
Pone atención a nuestro nuevo plan que describe las estrategias para reducir fuentes de polvo que pueden afectar tu salud. A través de este esfuerzo, también continuaremos asociándonos con la comunidad agrícola para alentar las prácticas agrícolas que previenen la erosión del suelo y el polvo arrastrado por el viento.
From May 22 through June 22, we are gathering public comments on the cleanup methods we’re considering for the BNSF Railway Black Tank Property in the Hillyard neighborhood. BNSF and Marathon Oil Company are responsible for cleanup because of their past activities at the site.
The site housed an above-ground black tank that stored petroleum products, primarily the thick, heavy oil known as bunker C for fueling trains. The site also had an above-ground red tank that was used to store and transfer diesel. Areas of soil are contaminated, and a 7-acre plume of petroleum rests on groundwater 170 feet underground.
Cross-section showing petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater
(Courtesy of ERM)
Excavation with offsite disposal or capping are proposed for contaminated shallow soil. Five groundwater cleanup options are under consideration: biodegradation, bioventing/biosparging, bioventing/biosparging and manual petroleum removal, bioventing/biosparging and steam-enhanced extraction, and smoldering combustion. Bioventing/biosparging is BNSF and Marathon's preferred cleanup option.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is building the North Spokane Corridor (NSC) to connect US Highway 395 with Interstate 90 in Spokane. The Hillyard portion of the NSC is within the Black Tank cleanup site. Ecology, BNSF, Marathon, and WSDOT are working together to keep both projects running smoothly.
BNSF and Marathon have committed to a cleanup timeframe of less than 20 years, and WSDOT is planning freeway construction work to accommodate multi-purpose cleanup infrastructure so cleanup options will not be limited by the presence of the NSC.
Educating the public about the Black Tank site and soliciting your input are important steps in the cleanup process. We have been impressed by the outpouring of public interest, which gave us the opportunity to meet with the community about this cleanup site 17 times since late 2015! The cleanup and the freeway design have and will continue to benefit from meaningful public engagement.
It’s all about the life-giving aquifer
Our business is protecting people and the environment. The Spokane-Valley Rathdrum-Prairie Aquifer provides drinking water to nearly 500,000 residents in the Spokane area. Protecting this vital, sole source of drinking water is our top priority for this site. Not only do we care about your health and the environment, but we drink that water, too!
Because the contamination is a heavy oil, it is staying on top of groundwater with very little mixing occurring (imagine oil and vinegar dressing that isn’t shaken up). Because water wells are not located close to the site, drinking water is not affected by the contamination at this time, and we monitor it regularly.
Next steps
Please submit comments to Jeremy Schmidt online, by email, or mail (4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, 99205) by June 22. We will respond to the comments we receive.
Then we’ll use the data gathered thus far and your feedback to draft a cleanup plan. We will hold a public meeting during the comment period for that cleanup plan.
There is no easy answer, but working together, understanding one another’s values and constraints with a willingness to compromise, we will protect people and the environment, preserve our precious drinking water, and successfully build a freeway.
A conservation stewardship program spearheaded by the Palouse Conservation District aims to enroll thousands of acres of land into conservation programs that keep working lands working in an environmentally friendly way. The Palouse River suffers from a variety of water quality problems including low oxygen, too much bacteria and high temperatures.
Millions of dollars are available to Palouse-area farmers for making on-the-ground improvements that benefit soil, water and fish and wildlife habitat. Farms in the Palouse watershed are eligible to sign up for a program designed specifically for landowners and agricultural operators in portions of Whitman, Spokane, Adams and Lincoln counties and Latah County, ID.
The voluntary, incentive-based practices that qualify for the program’s funding can help reduce erosion and protect clean water. The program will provide a total of $11 million through the next five years for projects including installing more than 250 acres of streamside vegetation, placing 520 acres of land into agricultural conservation easements and getting 45,000 acres of land enrolled in conservation tilling that also qualifies for the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association's Farmed Smart program.
Farms can sign up for the program through Feb. 3, 2017 by contacting their local conservation district or program coordinator Tami Stubbs by email, tamis@palousecd.org or phone, 509-332-4101 x 111.
By Brook Beeler, communications
Direct seeding allows farmers to place seeds into last year's
stubble and apply fertilizer in one pass. Less tilling helps
reduce erosion. Photo: Palouse Conservation District
Crops that have been seeded directly into stubble poke through
the soil and crop residue.
Native trees have been planted adjacent to the stream and provide
a buffer to prevent farm chemicals and soil from entering the water.
The Yale Road Fire scorched acres of forest
and farm land in the Hangman Creek
watershed in southeast Spokane County.
Those affected by summer fires encouraged to apply
Summer fires in the Spokane area burned thousands of acres including forest and farm land. These areas are now prone to erosion, potentially causing big problems for water quality. Fortunately, help is on the way through a timely funding opportunity. The Greater Spokane River Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Program is getting ready to accept applications and invest more than $15 million
on the ground to improve soil, forest health and protect water quality.
Livestock producers, dry-land farmers, and forestry operations are being encouraged to apply for financial and technical assistance to adopt conservation practices that protect and restore their property. Grants are available for projects within the Spokane River watershed in Idaho and Washington, and on Spokane and Coeur d’ Alene tribal lands.
“The program is available to anyone within the watershed, but we hope those affected by summer fires in the Hangman Creek and Little Spokane River areas apply,” said water quality specialist Elaine Snouwaert. “Soil burned by fire is highly unstable and has to potential to wash into rivers and streams causing water quality problems such as decreasing oxygen needed for fish.”
Landowners can take advantage of several existing conservation improvement programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives, Conservation Stewardship, Agricultural Conservation Easement and Healthy Forest Reserve.
Direct-seed farming is just one way to prevent erosion and improve
water quality. Etman Brothers Farms uses the technique near Valleyford, Wa.
Spokane Conservation District, which is leading the effort, is also introducing a Commodity Buffer Program. It’s a new, innovative approach that compensates landowners, based on crop values rather than the traditional soil rental rate values, for installing stream buffers that improve wildlife habitat and protect water quality.
Learn more about the program
Spokane Conservation District and its partners are hosting informational meetings before the first application period opens on Nov. 1. Landowners and producers have three opportunities to learn more at the following public meetings.
Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Fairfield Community Center, 218 E. Main St., Fairfield, Wash.
Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Big Barn Brewing Co., 16004 N. Applewood Lane., Mead, Wash.
You can access application materials on the Spokane Conservation District’s website. If you have application questions, email the program coordinator Charlie Peterson at charlie-peterson@sccd.org or call 509-535-5274. Idaho residents can also drop off their application materials at their local conservation district or NRCS Field Office.
The Holcim Inc cleanup site is owned by Neighborhood Inc., the City
of Spokane Valley, and Holcim (US) Inc.
Through November 2016, cleanup work is happening in the Spokane Valley at 12207 E. Empire Avenue, known as the Holcim Inc site.
The cleanup site is near the well-used Centennial Trail and a public boat launch on the Spokane River, so we wanted to let people know what's going on and answer potential questions.
Why is the site being cleaned up?
Cement was manufactured at the site from 1910 to 1967. During that time, cement kiln dust (CKD) was deposited on the ground. Soil sample results confirmed one CKD deposit about 109,100 cubic yards in volume and another about 12,300 cubic yards in volume.
The bare ground is a CKD deposit.
The CKD contains various contaminants that exceed state standards, including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Some of the CKD at the site is very corrosive with a pH greater than 12.5. Other contaminants near the cement-manufacturing area in surface soil include benzene, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and gasoline-range petroleum hydrocarbons.
Is it safe to use the trail and river near the site?
Yes, the trail and river are safe to use. The public should not enter the fenced cleanup area.
How will the site be cleaned up?
CKD deposits will be stockpiled and covered with an engineered cap on the Holcim Inc property. Native grasses will be planted on the 2 feet of topsoil covering the cap.
All contamination will be removed from the City of Spokane Valley property, and this land will be restored and available for public use.
What happens when cleanup is finished?
Long-term monitoring will occur, and Ecology will visit the site at least every 5 years to verify the cleanup still protects people and the environment.
Large-scale environmental cleanups with big cranes -- and even bigger price tags -- capture a lot of public attention, especially in Washington's urban centers.
Used oil sometimes bubbled up inside Roby's Service.
But relatively small projects in sparsely populated rural areas can have significant positive impacts in smaller communities too.
That's why our Toxics Cleanup Program created the Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative. The effort involves communities and other partners in shaping cleanup projects that will make a difference in local residents’ quality of life. We use initiative funds to help clean up properties where the responsible party (land user, facility operator or property owner) can't be found or simply can’t afford to pay for cleanup.
The Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative includes about two dozen cleanup sites in 11 counties. Among those sites are an old mill property and some former gas stations.
An eyesore in Buena
One of those old gas stations is the old Roby's Service property in Buena, a small Yakima County community north of Toppenish. The location operated as a gas station and auto repair facility from the 1950s until about 2003.
Roby's was bordered by homes and a U.S. Post Office.
Over the years, petroleum contamination was found in soil and groundwater coming from leaking underground storage tanks. Ecology dug up and removed the tanks and pipes in 2001. But the abandoned structures languished. Used oil sometimes seeped up from underground through holes in the flooring. It was a general eyesore, located next to homes and the local U.S. Post Office, and the community wanted it gone. Our cleanup staff in Ecology's Central Regional Office went to work with Yakima County's code enforcement personnel. In 2011, Ecology removed many site structures and concrete and pumped out a waste oil tank. In 2012, crews dug up and removed the empty waste oil tank and the surrounding contaminated soil, and backfilled the pit.
Crews tear down the old Roby's Service structures in Buena.
About 2,500 tons of soil and 122 tons of concrete debris were taken from the site and disposed of properly. A compound that helps enhance breakdown of the remaining petroleum contamination was added to leftover soil. Testing shows any residual soil contamination is not impacting groundwater beneath the site.
A new chapter
With the blighted structures gone, there's new hope for the former Roby's site. It's being removed from our Hazardous Sites List, which means we consider it to be cleaned up.
And a young entrepreneur who bought the property is talking about using it to develop a park or a youth center.
It's just one more example of how environmental cleanup can spark development and improve a community's quality of life.
By Seth Preston, Toxics Cleanup Program communications manager
By Seth Preston, communications manager, Toxics Cleanup
Program
Large cleanup sites – both in terms of physical size and
amounts of pollution – capture a lot of public attention. For example, big, old
industrial sites around Puget Sound and other large urban areas come to mind.
Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative locations
But cleaning up relatively small sites in rural communities
often can have just as big of a positive income for those communities’ environment,
economy and quality of life.
By Brook Beeler, communication manager eastern region
We have heard the word a lot.
Drought.
As communities’ awareness of water use is heightened this
year, it’s important to note we have been forging partnerships and making
progress on wise water use in Washington.
We work with the Washington Conservation Commission on
large-scale agriculture projects through the irrigation efficiencies grant
program. In partnership with local conservation districts financial
incentives are offered to landowners willing to install irrigation systems that
save water. The water saved helps keep water in rivers to benefit other
instream resources such as fish habitat.
In urban and suburban environments households use more water
outdoors than most American homes use for showering and washing clothes
combined. Facilities with large areas of maintained landscape, such as schools,
can use as much as 30 percent of their water to maintain the health and quality
of the landscape.
We are working to change that with a grant project in
Spokane County to upgrade public park, school and cemetery irrigation systems. More efficient irrigation equipment provides the
opportunity for significant water savings.
The Spokane Conservation District has used a $130,000 grant
to upgrade irrigation systems at three locations; three more will be completed
this spring. The district performed audits of each irrigation system and
recommended site-specific changes to improve water efficiency at:
Tekoa Elementary staff lugged hoses out onto the grass. A new
upgraded irrigation system will save time, money and water.
Photo courtesy Spokane Conservation District.
·Tekoa Elementary School ·Fairfield
Upper Park ·Latah Memorial Park ·Latah Town Park ·Rockford Rodeo Grounds ·Rockford Arena
Many of the locations were battling old leaky pipes, no
timers and in a few cases maintenance staff still lugged hoses around.
One change all locations received is anEnvironmental
Protection Agency’s WaterSense labeled smart controller. These
controllers collect on-site rainfall data and use historical weather data to
automatically adjust sprinklers to only water for current needs.
The water use data isn't in yet, but statistics show that as
much as half of water is wasted due to inefficient irrigation systems and
practices. We believe the small investment will go a long way for water
savings.
Learn how an irrigation
professionalcertified
by a WaterSense labeled program can install, maintain, or audit your irrigation
system to ensure it is operating efficiently while using less water.
When you’re ready,find a prowho can get the job done.
A healthy environment and thriving agricultural community can go hand-in-hand. Wheat and other cereal grains grown in eastern Washington are valuable and important to our state.
I had hoped to be headed to Skamania Lodge today to speak with the Tri-State Grain Growers Convention, but icy weather had a different idea. In the interest of safety, I had to change my plans.
I am disappointed that I was not able to spend time with the agricultural community today. My best days at work are those spent in the field getting my boots dirty. I look forward to each opportunity that gets me in the same room or field with farmers and ranchers.
Washington’s agricultural industry is incredibly valuable and important to our state. A healthy environment and a thriving agricultural community are not mutually exclusive. Both are important to our way of life, our heritage, and our economy.
I believe that many of our ranchers and farmers are among the best stewards of the land. We all want the same thing: a strong economy, healthy land, clean water, and clean air.
Over the years we have worked with the agricultural community and found solutions together. We may not always see eye to eye, but when we work in partnership we can make real progress.
Achieving results — together
For example, in the early 1990s, smoke filled the air during the summer when the agricultural community was managing crop residue from cereal grains. It was unhealthy for people and the environment. Together we identified a balanced solution and the Agricultural Burning and Research Task Force was formed. Diverse interests began working collaboratively on reducing air pollution. This collaboration has been so successful that it is being used as a model by other states.
You may also have heard about my Agriculture and Water Quality Advisory Committee. I assembled a broad array of interests to improve working relations and ensure that Washington has both clean water and a healthy agricultural industry.
Together we have identified new approaches and started making changes. Just recently we shared with the advisory committee changes we made to our “watershed evaluation” program. This evaluation process helps us identify water quality problems, prioritize our work, and directly follow up with landowners to assist them in fixing pollution issues.
Ensuring our communications clearly identify the problem
Increasing clarity on what constitutes pollution problems
Working toward consistency between staff and regions
My most important message to our agricultural community
I welcome your ideas and perspective. I even welcome disagreements. It is healthy as long as we keep talking. Together we are learning that all of us around the table need to be flexible to keep working-lands working.
I know that together we can find on-the-ground approaches that can preserve agricultural lands and achieve clean water.
Thank you, especially to the Washington Association of Wheat Growers for leading by example.
Wildfires have been causing smoky, hazy air off and on
throughout the state. The severity of the smoke impacts depends on weather
patterns. If the air isn’t moving, the concentration of fine particles
increases in the air. Smoke from fires can travel rapidly, affecting air
quality hundreds of miles downwind.
A wall of smoke from the Chiwaukum Creek fire looms over Plain, WA.
Photo courtesy of Dominic Urbano
According to the Washington Department of Health, breathing smoke from wildfires can make anyone cough or wheeze, and people who have asthma
or another lung disease may experience more severe symptoms.
As pollutant
particles build up in the respiratory system, they can cause several health
problems including burning eyes, runny noses, and illnesses such as bronchitis.
Protect your health
Here are some steps you can take to protect your
health from wildfire smoke:
People who are sensitive to air pollution should limit the time spent outdoors.
When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may be affected. To
protect yourself, it’s important to limit your exposure to smoke.
Pay attention to air quality reports. The Washington
Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) is a tool used to inform people about the
health effects of air pollution. WAQA uses color-coded categories to show
when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy.
Use common sense. Air quality
monitors may not have immediate information on conditions in your
specific area. If it looks and smells smoky outside, it’s probably not a
good time to go for a jog, mow the lawn or allow children to play
outdoors. Avoid physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
Keep smoke out. Turn on your air conditioner and keep the fresh-air
intake closed and set the unit to recirculate. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)filter to reduce indoor air pollution, if one is available to
you.
Stay alert
There are many ways to stay current on Washington wildfires.
By Brook Beeler, communication manager, Eastern Region
Millwood's approved plan makes 100
With more than 28,000 miles of shorelines in
Washington, there is a lot of work to do in order to adequately protect
this important natural resource so crucial to the state’s economy and our personal enjoyment. But there is good news. The city of Millwood
in Spokane County has the honor of receiving our 100th Shoreline
Master Program approval!
Local governments and communities are making real progress.
Shoreline programs allow us to plan for our use of shorelines while preserving
what we value, and protecting lives and property.
Millwood’s plan covers just under two of the 28,000 miles in
our shoreline tally. But even these miles of the Spokane River are as important
to manage as every mile of Puget Sound, Moses Lake, or the Yakima River.
“Millwood and its citizens thoughtfully considered their shoreline needs,” said Shoreline Planner Jaime Short. “The local
Citizens Advisory group, Planning Commission members, and City Council all dove
headfirst into the weighty issues of public access, environmental protection,
and redevelopment along their shorelines during the planning process.”
“The time and energy they devoted to these issues was
commendable and a shining example of what public participation can look like –
regardless of how many shoreline miles you are planning for.”
By Brook Beeler, communication manager, Eastern Region
Tension was high in early March when the first reports of
irrigators without access to water came in to state and local agencies.
Thousands of acres of high value fruit orchards were at stake. The Columbia
River system had been lowered in response to a crack in the dam near
Vantage.
Many state officials made a promise that projects in need of permits would be made quickly. Both state and federal agencies had to ensure that appropriate requirements for safety, in-water work, fish screening, cultural resources, and legal water use were met.
Orchards need water for irrigation and pest management. (Photo credit: wikimedia.)
Permits have been authorized for all 16 irrigation projects
brought forward for approval. Close
coordination among federal, state, and local partners has allowed irrigators to
get to work.
Successful partnerships
“The cooperation among state and federal agencies was key to
moving the permits quickly,” said Department of Agriculture Director Bud Hover. “I also really appreciated that we had a seat at the table during this process.
Even though we are not one of the permitting agencies, we were able to give
voice to the concerns of the farmers and growers affected.”
State departments of Agriculture and Ecology worked with the
Washington Conservation Commission to fund local conservation district staff to
make technical assistance visits and help farmers through the expedited permit
process. Coordination among local PUDs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and
the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation were also pivotal
in securing expedited permits.
“Believe it or not, most folks don’t want Ecology knocking
on their door even if it is to help,” jested Central Regional Director Tom Tebb
at a public meeting in March.
Providing access to water
“Since our initial meeting in March,” Tebb recently
reflected, “We have been fortunate to have such willing state and local
partners. Within days, local conservation district and Fish and Wildlife staff
were paired to provide technical assistance to farmers and growers with
permitting needs.”
Water users at any time through this historical drawdown of
the Columbia River may call Ecology’s water resources customer service
representatives to report a concern about their surface water intake or
groundwater wells.
Customer service phone lines: Chelan, Douglas, and Kittitas
counties call 509-575-2490; Grant county call 509-329-3400
Art with an environmental twist - Davis and Eisenhower H.S. students in Yakima re-purposed materials like
magazines, buttons, pop cans and took apart old jewelry and obsolete
electronics and found items to make something new, personal and beautiful. Art
is on display at Ecology's Yakima office, 15 W. Yakima Ave.
The vision was to combine environmental education and outreach with creation of
student artwork based on environmental themes for Earth Day. Ecology staff and local partners
provide inspiration, resources and education related to protecting the environment.
Students create personal works of art reusing, repurposing and recycling existing
materials. In this show they used magazines, leather coats, old buttons,
broken/old costume jewelry, recycled metals and materials they brought from
home to create new jewelry, sculptures and flat art that are creative and low
cost and turning trash into something beautiful.
Eisenhower High School under teacher Katie Hall is presenting
18 pieces of sculptural and flat artwork based on the inspiration of regional
Seattle Artist Marita Dingus, who uses recycled materials in her African
inspired self-image works. Students thought about their impact on the
environment and their culture and created self-portraits using the figure or
head as the format.
Davis High School under teacher Julie Geordias is presenting
jewelry made of paper beads, which the students made from cutting up donated
magazines, thus keeping the magazines out of the landfill. They also added
glass or wooden beads for color. They made leather button bracelets repurposing
old leather coats and old buttons. New jewelry pieces were created by taking
apart old or broken jewelry and costume pieces and combining it with scrap
metals and other materials.
"The projects showed the students they can be
creative for very low cost and at the same time recycle," said teacher Julie Georgiades. "The projects are ones
they can make at home without needing expensive tools, can teach to others and
possibly even sell for cash! The button bracelets also taught students a life
skill of how to use a needle and thread and sew on a button."
Earth Week Outreach
Yakima Makerspace’s John Storlie brought a trove of old outdated electronic
devices for students to deconstruct and re-create as pieces of art and jewelry.
The students had a lesson on the Steam Punk evolving from the late 1980s to the
present, which incorporates obsolete mechanical and electronic forms into
artwork and fashion.
Using a blender, water and trash
basket paper, Rod “The Garbage Man” Hankinson made recycled paper and spoke
about the lifecycle of paper and the importance of protecting the environment
to five classes of kindergartners at Apple Valley Elementary School.
by Madeleine Brown, public outreach, Nuclear Waste Program
Have you heard of Hanford? When I travel east, many folks I meet have not. My quick elevator speech is this: Have you heard of the Manhattan Project? Well, Hanford was where the government made the plutonium for the bomb, in World War II and during the Cold War.
Making plutonium is an inefficient process, so there is a huge mess to clean up. It always takes longer to clean up a mess than to make it, and Hanford made a mess for more than 40 years. So of course it’s going take a long time to clean up.
My job is to help people understand and comment on the decisions about the cleanup.
Outreach is the most important part of my job. It’s through outreach that I can express to people that Hanford’s cleanup requires attention and participation in decisions for decades to come. The people who will do the work, and the people who will be affected by the work, may not yet be born.
Around the state, more and more people have heard about Hanford and know a little bit about it – mainly the last scary headline about leaking tanks or the delays in the cleanup schedule.
Cleanup is costly
The work is dangerous. There are invisible radioactive hazards. There are tons (literally) of chemically dangerous waste. There’s heavy equipment, and old and crumbling infrastructure. The amount of waste is vast.
More than 65 square miles of groundwater are contaminated above drinking water standards.
56 million gallons of high-level radioactive and chemically hazardous waste is stored in 177 underground tanks
.
More than 40 miles of unlined trenches hold contaminated tools, garbage and equipment.
Unquantifiable numbers of buildings (they go up and come down nearly daily) and immeasurable amounts of contaminated soil.
Miles and miles of contaminated underground plumbing surround the tanks.
Planning to manage the risks, and all the steps required to accomplish the tasks really add up. The price tag for Hanford’s part of the Manhattan project was around half a billion dollars. Today, Hanford’s cleanup costs American taxpayers about $2 billion per year.
The difference? Cleaning up a mess is harder than making a mess — and today we’re dealing with the very messy work of previous generations. The waste management techniques used during the secret wartime era are not only illegal today, they are hard to even imagine.
It’s our backyard
Location, location, location. During World War II the Army chose Hanford because it was remote and sparsely populated. Today, Hanford’s economic impact results in a bustling community and a Metropolitan Statistical Area of more than 250,000 people.
When we finish a job, we can walk away, dusting off our hands and thinking of what to do next. But – as our parents always reminded us, we are not done until we clean up and put away the tools, too. Hanford’s cleanup will take decades.
Ironies
Hanford has ironies. The first is that while Hanford’s wastes have profoundly contaminated several square miles of desert, they also have preserved hundreds more. Hanford’s former buffer areas are now the Hanford Reach National Monument, home to dozens of rare, threatened and endangered species, bountiful fish, and sensitive sage-steppe habitat.
Hanford not only has toxic cocktails of chemical and radioactive waste; it’s also home to more than 30 species new to science, discovered about 20 years ago when the government turned some scientists loose to assess Hanford’s natural resources.
Another irony: while the government chose Hanford for its plutonium mission, the work drew to the area thousands of people, who created the vibrant communities of the Tri-Cities.
While most places evolved, Hanford has dramatic history. Cataclysmic geologic events formed the landscape: first, basalt floods, then the Missoula floods at the end of the Ice Age. And a catastrophic geopolitical event, a world war, put the Hanford mission in this special landscape.
Bringing it back to Earth – Pass it on
Hanford’s dramatic history preserved a great deal of sensitive habitat that elsewhere has been converted to agriculture and communities. But it was at a huge environmental and financial cost. Our work in the Department of Ecology is to make sure the federal government cleans up Hanford according to our regulations that protect air, land, and water. We are charged with remediating a very large, unique, and special part of the earth. And my job is to help people help us with those cleanup decisions.
By Brook Beeler, communication manager, Eastern Region
Columbia river looking upstream from Wanapum Dam.
As irrigation season is quickly approaching, water users upstream
of the Wanapum Dam are finding supply solutions quicker than expected. A
simplified permit, paired with technical assistance site visits, are speeding up
the process for many irrigators to get their pumps, pipes, and fish screens
moved to current water levels.
The Columbia River system has been lowered in response to a
crack in the dam near Vantage.
“We are so appreciative of the partnership and cooperation
among the state agency family. Each has shown commitment to ensuring homes,
farms, and communities have access to water. Whether it's manpower, funding, or
creative problem-solving, our partners have made the response to ensure secure
water supplies is as smooth as possible,” said Ecology Eastern Regional Director
Grant Pfeifer.
Ecology has received 33 reports of water users experiencing problems
with either irrigation infrastructure or groundwater wells, so far. Some also
report their problems have been resolved and assistance isn’t currently needed.
Those that do need help are being scheduled for technical
assistance site visits. Washington State Conservation Commission and Department
of Fish and Wildlife staff are on the ground working directly with farmers to
complete permit applications for in-water work. In some cases, farmers are
receiving verbal approval and can begin work immediately.
In addition, Ecology has sent letters to water right holders
in the Wanapum and Rock Island pools reminding water users that customer service
representatives are available to take calls for anyone experiencing problems. This
will help narrow the inventory of potential problems as Ecology explores
approaches to remedy water supply concerns.
Customer service phone lines: Chelan, Douglas, and Kittitas counties call
509-575-2490; Grant county call 509-329-3400
Agencies convene to find water supply solutions behind Wanapum Dam
By Brook Beeler, communication manager, Eastern Region
More than 100 people filled a Wenatchee meeting room Thursday night (March 13) seeking information on what impact the drawdown at Wanapum Dam will have on their water supplies. The Columbia River system has been lowered in response to a crack in the dam near Vantage and upstream water users – both irrigators and well users - are worried.
The meeting, hosted by Chelan PUD and the Washington State Horticulture Association, brought local and state officials together to address concerns and identify potential solutions.
Growers and irrigators expressed relief as state and local officials assured the crowd they were working cooperatively and as efficiently as possible to find solutions.
Cooperation and partnership
Chelan PUD General Manager Steve Wright opened the meeting with the statement, “It has been an intense two weeks, but I can assure you that the response by our partners both locally and at the state level has been remarkable.”
With more than six state agencies, four counties, and two different public utilities involved, the public could easily see the complexity. Officials quickly assured folks that they were working together to identify and reduce bottlenecks in order to get safe and secure water supplies online to those affected.
“We are working as fast as we possibly can,” said Ecology’s Central Office Regional Director Tom Tebb, when asked about timing.
He said the agency is working at the problem from both ends to identify the
affected population.
“Once details and data are gathered, we will be better prepared to work through the permitting requirements for safety, in-water
work, fish screening, cultural resource protection, and legal water use,” said Tebb.
What is at risk
For fruit growers, Department of Agriculture Director Bud Hover highlighted that thousands of acres of high value crops are
grown along this stretch of the Columbia River, including Kittitas, Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties. According to Hover cherries bring in $15,500 per acre and apples average about $12,500.
But farmers aren’t the only population impacted. Two individuals from the crowd said their household water supply has been
affected. People who lose household water may have to rely on temporary solutions such as bottled water for drinking or trucking in water supplies during the drawdown. In some cases, a more permanent solution would be to make sure pumps are fully penetrating an aquifer or wells deepened to avoid water shortages.
Defining the scope of affected water users
It was made clear that the more information state and local officials have on individual problems, the quicker solutions can be
found. They encouraged those affected to provide details on their intakes and water supply infrastructure.
Actions that irrigators can take that may not require any permits are outlined on Ecology’s webpage, including details and best practices from Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Agencies aren’t sitting back and waiting for information to flow in before troubleshooting ways to get the ball rolling.“No one is letting the grass grow on this problem,” said meeting facilitator Bruce Grim, Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association.
By gathering details on the type of water supply infrastructure, location, purpose of use and in the case of pipes and pumps – photos
-- officials think they can possibly get a simplified permit to cover any necessary work.
Identify and report impacts
Wanapum Dam owner, Grant PUD, is already working with Ecology to ensure that the 11 orchard irrigators with land-use authorizations for surface-water withdrawals from the Wanapum reservoir have information and technical assistance they need to prepare for the upcoming irrigation season. Irrigators affected by the reservoir drawdown have been contacted individually by Grant PUD.
Chelan PUD will be conducting a test for water users on the Rock Island pool from 1-4 p.m. on March 22 and 23. Dam operators expect to operate at a stable level. They are asking irrigators to test their pumps that day to gain an accurate count of who is affected. Detailed information is available on their webpage.
Any water user may call Ecology’s water resources customer service representatives if they anticipate a problem with their surface water intake or groundwater wells. This will help narrow the inventory of potential problems as Ecology explores approaches to remedy water supply concerns.
Customer service phone lines: Chelan, Douglas, and Kittitas counties call 509-575-2490; Grant county call 509-329-3400
Participating in the Department of Ecology's Pollution Prevention (P2) Program, Moses Lake Industries, Inc. (MLI) achieved several million dollars in savings over the last five years through waste reduction, on-site treatment, recycling, water reuse, and efficiency improvements.
The company
Moses Lake Industries, Inc.
Named after its hometown of Moses Lake, Washington, MLI specializes in producing ultra-high purity chemicals for the semiconductor industry. MLI products are used worldwide and have been recognized for their high quality. The company has received multiple product quality awards from customers for ten years in a row.
How they achieved results
In 2009, MLI began to treat their corrosive hazardous waste following the Department of Ecology’s Treatment by Generator guidance. Neutralizing the waste and evaporating its residue reduces the dangerous waste’s volume by up to 90 percent. Treating waste on site prevents potential pollution off site.
MLI also conserves water. They reuse plastic totes and drums returned from their customers, which are rinsed with high purity water before refilling. Rinsing generates a significant amount of corrosive wastewater. The company started a water reduction program that eliminates half of the dangerous wastewater.
Methanol is a byproduct of their manufacturing process. They use themethanol as fuel for their process boiler, reducing the need to purchase propane fuel. Surplus methanol has also been sold for use as a source material in the biodiesel industry.
In 2010, MLI jump-started their recycling program and was able to redirect 20 percent of solid waste to recycling. In the past three years, they have been able to recycle 50 percent of solid waste. They recycle a wide variety of products, including steel, aluminum, copper, plastic (like drums, totes, pallets, and sample bottles), paper, cardboard, e-waste, batteries, and bulbs.
In 2013, the company launched a pilot program to study the feasibility of using products that do not meet their high purity standard. The study explored possibly manufacturing copper oxide, a dry raw material used in many industries. The pilot was successful, and the results will be used to determine the economic benefit of a full-scale operation. One significant potential is the process could be used to turn waste materials into a marketable copper oxide product.
Less dangerous waste means less risk for workers
Keeping dangerous waste around means workers could be exposed to harmful chemicals. MLI is dedicated to plant safety, so they set annual goals for waste reduction, energy efficiency, and air quality.
Certain businesses are required to prepare Pollution Prevention Plans for voluntarily reducing their hazardous substance use and dangerous waste generation. MLI sets an excellent example for other businesses by following through with their pollution prevention opportunities.
Ecology recognized MLI’s efforts in 2003 with an Environmental Excellence Award for reducing toxic air pollution.
Managing dangerous waste is expensive. Moses Lake Industries’ culture of waste reduction saved them millions. Is your business next?
Help is available! To consult with Ecology’s Pollution Prevention experts about how to reduce waste at your Washington business, contact your regional office.
By Brook Beeler,
Communication Manager, Eastern Region
We are all familiar with the term acid and we often hear about the pH scale, but what does it really mean? What is the pH scale really
all about?
It is a delicate dance at the molecular level. Let’s break it down.
The foundational parts
Water molecules are made up of
one oxygen atom and two hydrogens.
Distilled water has a neutral pH of 7.
Molecules are made of atoms and are generally considered
neutral, meaning they do not have a positive or negative electrical charge. Water
is an example of a neutral molecule made of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. A neutral molecule is considered stable and
happy.
In the molecular world, though, being happy isn’t always
good enough. Molecules are often in a state of flux. The atoms that make up
molecules tend to move around a lot. Molecules may break apart to form ions,
which do have a positive or negative electrical charge. Ions can be an atom or
multiple atoms combined. If our water molecule breaks apart, the likely
combinations of ions would be positively charged hydrogen and oxygen bonded to
hydrogen or hydroxide, resulting in a negative charge.
Acid and base
The pH scale helps scientists measure whether or not a solution is acidic or basic. In chemistry, a solution is defined by one substance being dissolved in another. Solutions are easiest to understand as a liquid, but it is important to note that they also exist in gas and solid forms.
An acid is a solution that has a higher concentration of
positively charged hydrogen ions (H) than negatively charged hydroxide ions (OH).
Common examples of acids are lemon juice and vinegar. A base has a higher
concentration of OH ions. Common examples are baking soda and household ammonia.
The scale ranges from 0 to 14. Smack dab in the middle (7)
is considered neutral, which is neither acidic nor basic. And what substance do
you suppose comes in at that number? Our happy water molecule. When water is in
a pure or distilled state, it measures a pH of 7.
The lower the number (0-7), the more acidic it’s considered. And the higher the
number (7 to 14), the more basic it is.
The pH scale may seem small, but each whole number represents
a ten-fold leap in concentration of either H ions or OH ions. For example, rain
is slightly acidic with a pH that measures about six. A grapefruit is
approximately three on the pH scale. That means that a grapefruit is 1,000
times more acidic than rain.
Both acids and bases play important roles. They help us
clean and, in some cases, make delicious salad dressings. However, an
overabundance of solutions that are too high or too low on the pH scale can
cause problems with our health and the environment.
Our work related to pH
pH affects people and the environment and can be toxic. At
very high or very low pH levels, those charged ions dancing around in solutions
want to find a mate of the opposite charge. They woo neutral molecules,
attracting them away from stability. For example, metals like aluminum become
soluble at a low pH. This means it is more likely to dissolve and move through
a solution and make its way into drinking water or the food chain. That’s no
good.
In bodies of water, pH is generally very stable and the
value doesn’t change much. However, if we notice that pH values change, it’s
likely an indication that some sort of pollution is affecting the water.
So we pay attention to pH. We require wastewater discharges and air
permits to address pH. It is a parameter often addressed in our water quality improvement plans.
It can also indicate if a waste material is dangerous and has specific disposal
requirements according to state laws.
Holcim Inc. Toxics
Cleanup Site’s problem is with pH. Holcim owns property along the Spokane River in Spokane
Valley where soil and groundwater is contaminated with cement kiln dust.
Holcim and its predecessor companies operated a cement
manufacturing plant at the site until 1967. Cement kiln dust, a byproduct of
cement manufacturing, was landfilled on the northern portion of the site before
Washington state laws for dangerous waste
prevented that practice.
Cement kiln dust has a high pH and is considered caustic. Because
we pay attention to pH and the complex nature of groundwater, proximity to the
river and location of drinking water wells, Ecology required the parties
responsible to investigate the contamination and evaluate cleanup options.
This cleanup site is in early stages of the cleanup process.
But Ecology is continuing to work with the property owner to give this site a
clean bill of health. A cleanup option will be selected and implemented
ensuring that there is a pH solution for the health of people and the
environment.
