Toxic Waste Cleanup At Gas Works Park
Dec 31, 1969 --
This October, don't be surprised to see pump trucks working around the southeast end of Gas Works Park. They will be pumping out ground water mixed with contaminated oil that has been lurking under the park for years.
Studies conducted in March and April of this year found that the ground water in the southeastern area of the park is contaminated with oil containing benzene, a toxic solvent.
A network of wells, four inches in diameter and 15 feet deep, will be sunk in the southeastern shoreline of the park. The wells will have locking caps over the tops, and will be flush with the ground. They will be constructed and tested in October, after which a vacuum truck will pump them out once or twice a week until December.
This activity is an interim cleanup, timed to happen when ground water levels are lowest, and while park use is reduced.
Seattle's Parks and Recreation Department is working with Puget Sound Energy under an order by the State Department of Ecology to determine the most appropriate cleanup plan for Gas Works Park.
The public comment period for the proposed
interim cleanup will be open until October 12. Comments should be sent to Charles San Juan, Washington Department of Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504, or e-mail: csan461@ecy.wa.gov.
©
Seattle Press on Line, Journalmaker Inc, and/or the author(s). All rights reserved.
You may print one copy of this article for your personal use.
Republishing by any means without specific written permission is prohibited.
JournalMaker article 261 reprinted Nov 20, 2008 by 38.103.63.61 from Seattle Press on Line
