|
 |
|
Lower Duwamish Waterway Questions and Answers
An important milestone has been achieved: Lower Duwamish Waterway contamination investigation is complete.
As part of the cleanup process for the Lower Duwamish Waterway, the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) investigated contamination in the Waterway’s sediments. The investigation answered questions including:
- What contaminants are in the Waterway?
- What areas are most contaminated?
- What risks do those contaminants pose to humans and wildlife?
After seven years of work, the results were described in a document called a Remedial Investigation Report. The report was submitted to EPA and Ecology for their review and approval. EPA and Ecology recently completed their review of the report. They shared many of the concerns expressed by community members who came to a public meeting on November 29, 2007 to learn about the investigation.
EPA and Ecology provided comments to the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group on what revisions must be made to the report. The final Remedial Investigation Report should be ready by early 2009.
Printable Version of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Questions and Answers Fact Sheet (PDF) (6 pp. 122K, About PDF)
Responses to your Questions
To view the answer to a question click on the question to expand the answer, click it again to hide the answer.
 Is it OK to eat salmon from the Duwamish Waterway?
What about other types of fish and shellfish in the Duwamish – can I eat them?
Is it OK to walk and play on public beaches along the Duwamish Waterway?
What are the most harmful contaminants found in the Duwamish?
What about the wildlife living in or close to the Waterway?
How did EPA and Ecology choose seafood consumption rates to assess risks from chemicals in seafood?
Can we get some of the most contaminated areas cleaned up sooner rather than later?
Why should we try to clean up the river if there is still going to be industry and continuing contamination?
Who pays for all this work?
What were EPA and Ecology’s responses to the draft Remedial Investigation Report?
What happens next?
 Where can I learn more? How can I get involved?
The best way for people to get involved is to join the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC). That group is made up of members of the local community and serves as the focal point for the exchange of information among the local community and EPA, Ecology, and other agencies. The list below provides several resources for finding out more about the work being done at the site.
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (www.duwamishcleanup.org)
5410 First Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 954-0218
info@duwamishcleanup.org
Environmental Protection Agency:
Renée Dagseth (dagseth.renee@epa.gov), Community Involvement Coordinator
(206) 553-1889
EPA’s Lower Duwamish website (http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/lduwamish/)
More information on the Superfund process (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/index.htm)
Washington State Department of Ecology : (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/lower_duwamish/lower_duwamish_hp.html )
Molly Morris (momo461@ecy.wa.gov), Community Outreach & Education
425-649-7135
Washington State Department of Health (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/consumpadvice.htm#Lower_Duwamish_Waterway)
Lenford O’Garro (Lenford.Ogarro@doh.wa.gov), Public Health Advisor
877-485-7316 (toll free)
Or
Erin Kochaniewicz (Erin.Kochaniewicz@doh.wa.gov), Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist
877-485-7316 (toll free)
Lower Duwamish Waterway Group: (www.ldwg.org)
(The Boeing Company, City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle)
The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group’s web site (www.ldwg.org) contains all final reports the group has prepared to date, along with other information about the Waterway.
Lower Duwamish Waterway Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) (http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/northwest/lowerduwamishriver/index.html)
Please contact Rebecca Hoff, NOAA, Case Team Coordinator, 206-526-6276, on behalf of the Lower Duwamish Waterway natural resource trustee council.
Information Repositories (where important site-related documents are available for review):
South Park Public Library
8604 Eighth Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98108
206-615-1688
EPA Records Center
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
206-553-4494
Lower Duwamish Waterway Site
Back to Top
[ Main Cleanup | Brownfields ]
[ Superfund | FOIA | Records Center ]
Point of contact: Renée Dagseth
E-Mail: Dagseth.Renee@epa.gov
Phone Number: (206) 553-1889
Last Updated: 06/30/2008
|