Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program

Work on Vashon-Maury Island moves ahead

If you live in the North end of Tacoma or the southern tip of Vashon-Maury Island, you have likely heard about the Tacoma Smelter Plume. However, if you just moved here, the following information may be new.


The former ASARCO smelter stack.



For nearly 100 years a smelter operated in the small town of Ruston. Air emissions from the smelter were carried by the wind to areas in King, Pierce and Thurston County. These air emissions contained heavy metals including arsenic and lead, which settled on surface soils. The highest levels of soil contamination are seen closest to the former smelter and decrease with distance.

 

Soil replacement work

Through our Residential Yard Sampling and Cleanup Program, we are working on 14 yards and a community-park in the southern end of Vashon-Maury Island. Work started on the first yard in early March 2019.

If you live in this neighborhood, you will likely see construction-related traffic. You may notice orange fencing, closed sidewalks, and Ecology’s Yard Program banner. The contractor usually works on a few yards at a time, which means workers may travel between yards with equipment. Construction can be noisy, and it is important to pay attention to trucks and large machinery that are coming and going. This construction will likely go through July 2019.    

Please call us if you see:

• Dust in the air from construction.
• Soil on the sidewalk or street.
• Mud or water running off the property.
• Dump trucks without covers.

 

Soil sampling

If you live on the southern end of Vashon-Maury Island it is likely that your property has already been sampled. To find out if your property has soil sampling results, go to our public database and enter your address. Soil sampling is for existing, residential properties. If you are a new homeowner, and your soil hasn’t been sampled, you can fill out an access agreement and get your yard sampled, too. Soil sampling is free and completely voluntary.

Future soil replacement

Currently, 53 properties qualify for soil replacement on Vashon-Maury Island. By the end of 2019, we will have removed and replaced soil on 35 of these properties. Unfortunately, we are not able to remove and replace soil on all the properties that qualify. Some properties have steep slopes or are located in areas we don’t work, like forests or vacant lots. And, sometimes, we are unable to coordinate with the property owner. At the end of the program, we will offer one last opportunity for residents with qualifying properties to participate in our Yard Program.
 


By the end of 2019, we will have removed and

replaced soil on 35 properties on Vashon-Maury

Island.

Soil left behind

The main objective of the Tacoma Smelter Plume project is to reduce human health risks from arsenic and lead in soils. Soil replacement is focused on the high-use areas around homes and in areas where children play. Soil contamination may remain in undeveloped and forested areas. It is important to practice healthy actions like taking shoes off at the door and washing hands after working or playing in the dirt no matter where you live within the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

 

Questions

If you have any questions about the Yard Program or construction in your neighborhood, please call our project line 360-407-7688 x 2. We are always available for questions and are happy to help you find the information you need. 

Follow our yard cleanup work:

• Follow our blog!
• Visit our webpage on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.
• Sign up for email updates on our listserv.
• Look up soil sampling or soil replacement records on our public database.

By Crescent Calimpong, Toxics Cleanup Program

 

Historical photo of the ASARCO smelter, courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library Northwest Digital Collections for historical photos.

 

New Online Map: Dirt Alert

The new map is mobile friendly, making it easy to access.

from your home computer or your phone.  

This month we launched a new online Dirt Alert map. The map focuses on the Tacoma Smelter Plume, but also covers areas in the state where soil contamination may exist from arsenic-related contamination: 

·        Everett Smelter cleanup

·        Upper Columbia River Lake Roosevelt cleanup site 

·        Five Washington counties where soil contamination may exist in former orchard lands

By putting both information and data in one place, we hope to make it easier for residents to find out about arsenic-related soil contamination and resources. The new web application replaces two older, online maps, the Arsenic in Soil Database and the Everett and Tacoma Smelter Search. 

New look- Same data

The upgrade means faster downloading times and the ability to access the map by phone. The map also visually displays soil sampling data. Within the Tacoma Smelter Plume and Everett Smelter cleanup area, the map provides access to:

·        Soil sampling maps

·        Soil replacement paperwork

For yards outside of the Everett Smelter cleanup area or Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program service area, the map links to our Healthy Actions webpage that teaches you how to protect yourself from arsenic and lead in dirt, and provides contacts for more information.

Questions?

If you have questions or comments about the map, please call the project line at 360-407-7688 and press 2 for Tacoma Smelter Plume. You can also email the Yard Program Outreach Coordinator at Crescent.Calimpong@ecy.wa.gov.

Get the latest updates:

·       Follow our blog!

·       Visit our webpage on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

·       Sign up for email updates on our listserv.



The home page of Ecology's new, online map, Dirt Alert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Crescent Calimpong, Toxics Cleanup Program

Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program progress

Steady movement forward

We are breaking ground, removing dirt, and moving forward on cleanup of 39 yards in north Tacoma, and 16 yards on Vashon-Maury Island.  This work is part of Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) larger efforts to address soil contamination left behind by the former Asarco smelter.

For nearly 100 years, the former Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in north Tacoma.  Air pollution from the smelter settled on surface soils over more than 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound.  Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are still in the soil as a result of this pollution.

We have been working on soil replacement in Tacoma
since 2013.  Our work has been focused in Area 1 and 2
 of the Study Area.  The Study Area is colored green.

Ecology’s Yard Program is offering soil replacement to the most highly contaminated yards.  To date, we have found 1,186 yards that qualify for the program.  We have completed soil replacement on 224 of those yards in the Tacoma area (see map), and 245 yards in our Yard Program Service Area.  Our Yard Program Service Area includes parts of North Tacoma, Ruston and the southern end of Vashon-Maury Island.

Work underway

Our funding was put on hold when a capital budget was not passed during the 2017 legislative session.  As a result, last year we scaled back, and worked on a small group of 17 yards in Tacoma.  In early 2018, the capital budget passed, freeing up funding to continue work.

This year we are working on 39 yards in the Tacoma area.  We break the work into groups of yards.  The largest group is 25 yards located in Area 2 of the study area (see map).  The remaining 14 yards are located outside of the study area. To date, yards that we worked on outside of the study area in Tacoma have levels of arsenic over the EPA action level and are funded by the EPA.

If you live in Area 2, you will likely see construction-related traffic.  You may notice orange fencing, closed sidewalks, and Ecology’s Yard Program banner.  The contractor usually works on a few yards at a time, which means they may travel between yards with equipment.  Construction can be noisy, and it is important to pay attention to trucks and large machinery that are coming and going.  Construction in this area will likely start in mid-July.  We hope to start work on Vashon-Maury Island in the fall of 2018.  
   

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Yard Program or construction in your neighborhood, please call our project line (360) 407-7688 x 2.  We are always available for questions, and are happy to help you find the information you need.

By Crescent Calimpong, Toxics Cleanup Program

Dust Wars

Somewhere, in a galaxy far, far away, there might be people who thrive in the midst of dust. That's not us. Dust storms here on earth can be dangerously unhealthy. Dust storms don’t just happen in the middle of Tattoine or in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. In our state, dust is more of an issue in Eastern Washington, but can be a problem anywhere given the right (or wrong) conditions.

Sand People, Star Wars: A New Hope.

While agricultural lands and activities have been the primary source for dust storms in Washington, we’re seeing fewer per year, thanks to better farming practices.

Dust storms have become less common in Washington since the mid-1990s when farmers started using more soil erosion prevention techniques. Those farming techniques have made a difference: In the early ’90s, Kennewick had as many as seven dust storms in just one year! Compare that to the past six years, when the area only had seven dust storms in total. That means cleaner air and healthier people.

Judge by size, do you?

Strong winds and dry conditions cause large amounts of soil to be blown into the air. When that happens, it’s hard to see, making driving dangerous. Plus, all of those large and small particles sting your eyes and sandblast your body. The tiny particles — known as PM10 and PM2.5 — can get deep in your lungs, causing irritation and worsening existing asthma, allergies, and heart disease. 

Dust storm in Eastern Washington, August 2005.

Keep dirt on the ground

Ecology and our clean air partners monitor the air for dust and other pollutants. In areas where windblown dust is a problem, we work with U.S. Department of Agriculture program partners to minimize soil erosion. We’re piloting a grant project in Benton, Franklin, and Klickitat counties where dust blown from farm land causes Kennewick’s air quality to be unhealthy.

The focus will be on farms in the Conservation Reserve Program — a land conservation program that pays farmers to take land out of production and maintain plants that anchor soil. As these conservation contracts expire this fall and land goes back into use for farming, the grants will support farmers’ use of farming methods that keep dirt on the ground and out of the air.

Be prepared

When there's a dust storm, pull over if you're driving and stay in your car. Don’t exercise outside. Cover your nose and mouth. Get inside if you can and close windows, doors, and vents. Sign up for Dust Storm Alerts from the National Weather Service to find out when high winds are forecast.

Raise a lightsaber

Dust may not sound as dangerous as other types of air pollution, but it can be just as harmful. The best way to prevent dust is to continue encouraging farmers’ efforts to find new ways and use tested methods to prevent soil erosion. Ecology and our clean air partners have made a lot of progress over the past few decades. We’re committed to protecting your health.

By Miriam Duerr | Air Quality

Tacoma Smelter Plume: New Dirt Alert Videos!

The Tacoma Smelter Plume project has three new Dirt Alert videos that show simple actions you can take to keep you and your family healthy. You can also pick up some great gardening and landscaping tips for around the home.





Click to go to our YouTube Channel



   These videos provide handy tips on:

•    Mulching: Ways to cover bare
•                      patches of soil.

   Gardening: How to garden safely.

•    Pets: Prevent pets from tracking in
              excess dirt into the home.



What can I do?

Help us spread the word!  Please share, post, and send our videos.

• Tell your neighbors, friends and family these handy tips.

• Commit to doing at least one action at your home
• Visit www.DirtAlert.info for more information

The Tacoma Smelter Plume is a 1,000 square-mile-area of arsenic and lead soil contamination that affects King, Pierce, and Thurston Counties.  We partner with local county health departments to manage the health risks from soil contamination.

 

Not only are these great tips for people who live in the Tacoma Smelter Plume Area, they’re great tips for anyone living in areas with possible soil contamination, like the Everett Smelter Plume and Upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt Area. Even if you don’t live in one of these areas, these handy tips will help reduce the dirt and dust in your house, lessening effects of dust-caused illnesses like asthma and allergies. 

If you are an organization or group and would like to partner with Ecology - email stacy.galleher@ecy.wa.gov to help spread the word about Dirt Alert!

 

Gardening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV4YUdCHJjE

Mulching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSU8vWfdOU

Pets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GXlOnNzGU

Tacoma Smelter Plume: 2016 Yard Program Construction Update

September marks the fast approaching arrival of fall, and a halfway point for this season’s Yard Program work in the Tacoma Smelter Plume.  This year we will be working through the winter, but the sunny, fall days in September have given us lots to be cheerful about. The good weather has helped keep our contractors on pace replacing soil in residential yards.

As we near the end of September, we are wrapping up soil replacement on Group 3 (21 yards) and beginning construction on Group 5 (10 yards) (see map). We removed soil on half of the residential yards in Group 4 (50 yards) and are on track to finish construction on these properties by February 2017.  

Heavy equipment in front of a yard receiving soil replacement.

 

Prioritizing work on yards with the highest risk

This year, we are mostly working on yards within the Study Area (see map). However, ten (Group 5 on map) of the 81 yards scheduled for this year are located outside of the Study Area.  These properties have the highest levels of soil contamination that we have found within the plume (arsenic over 230 parts per million).

The yards that qualify for soil replacement may appear to be randomly scattered throughout the Yard Program service area. However, we are prioritizing these yards because the levels of arsenic or lead pose a higher risk than other yards. The soil replacement work on these ten yards is partially funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A map of properties receiving soil replacement in 2016.

 

Working with hundreds of property owners each year…

We are working with nearly 300 property owners at any one time.  Each year, we continue to communicate with the previous year’s participants, work with residents currently receiving soil replacement, and plan with residents for next year’s construction. All this planning allows us to remove and replace soil on 80-100 properties annually. For more information on our soil replacement sequence you can go to our Yard Program Updates page.

The Yard Program cleans up arsenic and lead from the former Asarco smelter in Tacoma.  It is a voluntary program that’s offered at no cost to the homeowner.  This work is part of Ecology’s efforts to sample and replace contaminated soil in the Tacoma Smelter Plume.  The plume is a 1,000 square-mile-area of arsenic and lead contamination from the former Asarco smelter in north Tacoma.

 

Follow our yard cleanup work:

·        Follow our blog!

·        Visit our webpage on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

·        Sign up for email updates on our listserv.



Stacked sod awaiting placement.

The contractor crew laying down sod.

 

 

 

 

 

Questions about the Yard Program?

Please call the project line at (360) 407-7688 and press 2 for Tacoma Smelter Plume, or email the Yard Program Outreach Coordinator at Crescent.Calimpong@ecy.wa.gov.

 

Questions about the soil in your yard?

If you live in north Tacoma, we may have sampling results for your yard.  To check, visit our online database.  If you do not find results for your yard, you can sign up for free soil sampling by contacting the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at (253) 798-3503 or DirtAlert@tpchd.org.

By Crescent Calimpong, Yard Program Outreach Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program

Tacoma Smelter Plume: 2016 Yard Program Construction Underway

The Tacoma Smelter Plume Residential Yard Sampling and Cleanup Program work is well underway for 2016.

We started construction on the first yards in early June. Currently our contractors are actively working on 16 yards. The contractors generally work on several properties at a time, removing and replacing the soil in groups to pool resources and localize the construction activity.

Properties receiving soil replacement in 2016.

In 2016, Ecology will remove contaminated soil on a total of 80 residential yards in Tacoma (see map at right). Work hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and some Saturdays with permission from Ecology. With so many properties, you will likely see construction related activity in those neighborhoods through February 2017.

The Yard Program cleans up arsenic and lead from the former Asarco smelter in Tacoma. It is a voluntary program that’s offered at no cost to the homeowner. This work is part of Ecology’s efforts to sample and replace contaminated soil in the Tacoma Smelter Plume. The plume is a 1,000 square-mile-area of arsenic and lead contamination from the former Asarco smelter in north Tacoma.

Follow our yard cleanup work

• Follow our blog!

• Visit our webpage on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

• Sign up for email updates on our listserv.

Questions about the Yard Program?

Please call the project line at (360) 407-7688 and press 2 for Tacoma Smelter Plume, or email the Yard Program Outreach Coordinator at Crescent.Calimpong@ecy.wa.gov.

Questions about the soil in your yard?

If you live in north Tacoma, we may have sampling results for your yard.  To check, visit our online database.  If you do not find results for your yard, you can sign up for free soil sampling by contacting the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at (253) 798-3503 or DirtAlert@tpchd.org.


By Crescent Calimpong, Yard Program Outreach Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program

Tacoma Smelter Plume: Recap of Tacoma Public Meetings

By Jill Reitz, Environmental Planner, Toxics Cleanup Program



This map shows the estimated highest arsenic levels

in the plume. A property is likely to have higher or

lower levels than what is shown on the map. The only way to know for sure is to sample the soil.

Last week, Ecology held two public meetings on the progress of the Tacoma Smelter Plume project.  We had a turnout of over 50 people who came out to learn about yard sampling and cleanup in Tacoma neighborhoods. Please see our slideshow presentation to learn more about the topics we covered. Here are a few of the common questions and answers that were discussed:

How do I sign up for soil sampling?

If you live in the most impacted areas of the plume (see map right), you likely qualify for one of our free soil sampling programs.  Please visit our sampling webpage to learn more and sign up.

Why do I have to wait for soil replacement?

There are around 1,100 properties slated for soil replacement.  We are planning to replace soil on an estimated 100 properties a year.  We are first working in areas with the highest percentage of properties that qualify for soil replacement.


At the meetings, we presented maps showing our schedule for soil replacement in the service area.  Please see the Study Area sequence map and the Tacoma sequence map for more information.



What are the health impacts of arsenic and lead?

Long-term exposure to small amounts of arsenic or lead on a regular basis can increase your risk for certain health problems.  Arsenic can cause cancer, heart disease and diabetes.  Lead can lead to developmental delays or behavioral problems.  Please visit our webpage on the health effects for more information.
 

What do I do if I have elevated arsenic but do not qualify for soil removal?

We recommend healthy actions to reduce your exposure to contaminated soil. This includes things like: 

Health Actions are simple things you can do to protect

yourself and your family.

• Wash your hands before eating
• Take your shoes off at the door
• Vacuum at least once a week
• Peel produce grown in your garden

Please visit the Healthy Actions webpage for more information. 

Follow our yard cleanup work:

• Follow our blog!
• Visit our webpage on the Tacoma Smelter Plume.
• Sign up for email updates on our listserv.
• Attend the next public meeting:

June 14th-7:00-8:30 pm
McMurray Middle School
9329 SW Cemetery Rd, Vashon, WA, 998070

Questions about the Tacoma Smelter Plume project?
Please call the project line at (360) 407-7688 and press 2 for Tacoma Smelter Plume; email me at Jill.Reitz@ecy.wa.gov; or contact your local health department DirtAlert program.