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Department of Ecology News Release - June 10, 2008
08-159
OLYMPIA – Years of industrial and commercial use have left a legacy of contamination around Puget Sound, including Mason County’s Oakland Bay. As part of efforts to restore the health of the Sound, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is launching a study of Oakland Bay’s sediments and wood waste piles which will help determine plans for future cleanup.
Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program is asking the public to comment on the first phase of the investigation – the draft sediment sampling and analysis plan. Ecology will hold a meeting to gather public feedback at 6:30 p.m. at the Shelton Civic Center on Monday, June 16.
The plan is also available at the Reed Library, 710 West Alder Street, Ecology’s Lacey office and on the Ecology Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/oaklandBay/psi_oaklandBay.html .
In addition to attending the meeting, citizens can also mail or e-mail their comments directly to Ecology staff by July 2:
Cynthia Erickson, site manager
Dept. of Ecology, SWRO
Toxics Cleanup Program
P.O. Box 47775
Olympia, Washington 98504-7775
ceri461@ecy.wa.gov
Oakland Bay is one of seven Puget Sound embayments receiving early-action, high-priority attention under the Puget Sound Initiative. The initiative is a comprehensive effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agriculture and environmental communities, scientists and the public to restore and protect the Sound.
Ecology is leading similar bay-wide sediment investigations in other priority areas, including Port Gardner at Everett, Fidalgo Bay at Anacortes, Port Angeles Harbor and Olympia’s Budd Inlet.
Information gathered from previous sediment investigations in the bay indicates levels of contamination that violate state standards for metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, and petroleum products. There are also concerns about accumulated wood waste and contamination from non-point sources such as failing septic systems, old city sewage outfalls, fertilizer runoff and stormwater.
Ecology proposes taking 61 sediment samples at the surface level and in cores up to 12 feet in depth. The samples would be taken in Oakland Bay, Shelton Harbor and Hammersley Inlet. Part of the study involves analyzing shellfish tissue samples from Oakland Bay. Ecology will issue a report of the study’s findings in mid 2009. In the meantime, current cleanup efforts at contaminated sites adjacent to Oakland Bay will continue.
Another Ecology program – Water Quality – is also working in Oakland Bay and developing a plan to address fecal coliform bacteria and temperature problems.
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 (desk)
For more information:
Oakland Bay: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/oaklandBay/psi_oaklandBay.html
Fact Sheet: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0809057.pdf
Puget Sound Initiative: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/overview/psi_baywide.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
