Sediments study will help guide Port Gardner Bay cleanup work

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - May 7, 2009

09-105

Sediments study will help guide Port Gardner Bay cleanup work

OLYMPIA – A recent study of Port Gardner Bay sediments shows efforts to clean up contaminated sites in and around the bay are on target, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology designated Port Gardner Bay in Snohomish County as a high-priority, “early-action” cleanup area under the Puget Sound Initiative – the state’s effort to clean up and restore the health of Puget Sound. Ecology has conducted similar bay-wide sediment studies in other early-action areas, including Fidalgo Bay at Anacortes and Budd Inlet at Olympia.

Ecology is working to clean up several Port Gardner Bay sites polluted with petroleum products, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other substances. The work will improve and protect the environment, help prevent people’s (especially children’s) exposure to toxic threats and safeguard wildlife. Cleanup work also will provide jobs, and likely lead to economic development opportunities.

Study results support Ecology’s decision to focus cleanup and restoration efforts along the Port Gardner waterfront. That includes the East Waterway, the South Terminal and the industrial area near Maulsby Mudflats. Ecology expects cleanup efforts to greatly reduce any risk that contaminants may pose. Study results also will help Ecology make decisions about further evaluation of the estuary and sloughs.

“This was a good step to take. It will help us refine our cleanup efforts in and around Port Gardner Bay,” said Russ McMillan, lead scientist on the Port Gardner team for Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program. “It confirms that we chose the right sites for cleanup work.”

The study did not provide an overall health evaluation of Port Gardner Bay’s aquatic ecosystem. It looked specifically at chemicals in sediments and tissue, and at toxic effects to sediment-dwelling animals. Ecology staff reviewed the study May 4 and 5 in Everett with local and state agencies, tribes, environmentalists, landowners, and businesses.

Among study findings:

The sediments in the East Waterway appear to be impacted the most. The animals in the sediment and aquatic habitat are impaired by chemicals (mercury, zinc and 4-methyl phenol) and decaying wood waste. Habitat and the biological community in the Maulsby Mudflats and Ebey and Steamboat sloughs are impacted by decaying wood waste but don’t appear to have severe chemical contamination.
Dioxins were found at locations throughout Port Gardner Bay. Concentrations ranged from 0.16 to 47 parts per trillion. The highest concentrations were found in the East Waterway.
Dioxins were higher near sites that already are designated for cleanup. Ecology believes the cleanups planned at those sites will reduce the risk from dioxins.
Finding dioxin wasn’t a surprise, since dioxins are common in air, water and soil. Human and natural activities – including combustion and incineration (domestic and industrial), and other industrial processes – produce dioxins. Research shows exposure to relatively high levels of dioxins is likely to cause cancer in humans and animals. However, people are normally exposed to much lower background levels. Most of our exposure to dioxins comes from the foods we eat.

Ecology’s next steps:

The Washington Department of Health is conducting a health consultation using surface sediment and tissue samples collected from clams, crabs, bottom fish, and plants. The health consultation report will determine if contact with the sediment or eating these items could pose a health risk to humans. Results may be ready by the end of 2009.
Continue current and planned site cleanup work.
Apply study results to set priority and initiate next cleanup work.

Copies of the study report may be reviewed at Everett’s main library and its Evergreen branch. Obtain a CD with the study report from Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program by contacting Ann McNeely at (360) 407-7205 or amcn461@ecy.wa.gov.

About the Puget Sound Initiative: The Puget Sound Initiative is a comprehensive effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agricultural and environmental interests, scientists, and the public to restore and protect the Sound. A healthy Sound supports jobs and recreation for all residents. Cleaning up areas with important habitat and natural resources now will prevent sites from becoming more polluted and more complex, and will lower cleanup costs.

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov

Read more about Port Gardner Bay cleanup: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/everett/psi_everett.html