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South Park Soil Project
South Park Soil Remediation Project
Project Update
New documents added May 23, 2008:
Project Overview
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has completed temporary actions to contain and cover chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which were found in dirt on streets, in a storage lot and in two residential yards in a small area of South Park (please see the “PCB Sample Locations and Test Results” link at right).
The PCBs found were not an immediate health threat, according to Public Health-Seattle and King County. PCBs can cause negative health effects if people are exposed to them for a long time.
The city is now evaluating alternatives to keep the PCBs away from people on a more permanent basis.
Interim Cleanup Activities
In consultation with the Department of Ecology, SPU completed interim cleanup activities in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to protect people from coming into contact with the chemicals:
- • Crews removed PCB-contaminated gravel and placed new gravel in the road shoulders along Dallas Avenue South between 14th Avenue South and 17th Avenue South, on 16th Avenue South between Dallas Avenue South and South Cloverdale Street, and in a storage lot at Dallas Avenue South and 16th Avenue South.
- • Crews graded and paved streets in the triangle bounded by Dallas Avenue South, 17th Avenue South and South Donovan Street.
- • Workers installed a temporary stormwater collection and treatment system to control runoff from the newly-paved roads. The treatment system was removed in March 2005 after sampling of the stormwater showed it had no PCBs. The tanks continue to collect runoff, which is tested monthly. PCBs have not been detected in any of the samples.
- • Construction crews removed soil from two residential yards in the area and replaced it with clean sod.
- • A contractor swept and pressure-washed South Cloverdale Street between 16th Avenue South and 14th Avenue South, 16th Avenue South between Dallas Avenue South and South Cloverdale Street, and South Donovan Street between 16th Avenue South and 17th Avenue South.
- • A contractor paved a small area of road shoulder on the north side of the 8500 block of Dallas Avenue South.
Additional Soil Samples
As an extra precaution, SPU tested dirt from several rights-of-way west of the business corridor (west of 14th/16th Avenue South). The tests found no PCBs requiring clean up. The locations tested were:
- • SE corner of 10th Ave S and S Cloverdale St
- • SW corner of S Sullivan St and 8th Ave S
- • NE corner of S Sullivan St and 12th Ave S
- • NW corner of 12th Ave S and S Cloverdale St
- • SW corner of 12th Ave S and S Donovan St.
History of PCBs
PCBs were widely used historically in many types of electrical equipment. They have not been manufactured in the United States since August 1977 because scientists found that PCBs could cause negative health effects. PCBs can also stay in the environment for a long time.
Long Term Solution
The City of Seattle has begun work to develop alternatives to ensure people are permanently protected from coming into contact with the PCBs. Any additional construction activities related to this work will be coordinated with cleanup activities at Terminal 117, adjacent to this area.
Health Precautions
As a precaution, Public Health officials recommend that residents and pedestrians in this area take these safety steps:
- • Wash hands after playing or working in the dirt.
- • Take shoes off at the door to reduce the chance of bringing the dirt into the house.
- • Mop and dust the house frequently to remove any dust or dirt that might enter the house.
For tips on soil safety in multiple languages from Public Health-Seattle and King County, see Soil Safety Guidelines below.
If you have questions about PCBs and your health contact your health care provider. You can also talk to one of the people listed below:
For health questions
Washington State Department of Health
Lenford O’Garro at Lenford.O’Garro@doh.wa.gov or Elmer Diaz at
Elmer.Diaz@doh.wa.gov or (877) 485-7316
Links to other sites
Soil Safety Guidelines Posters in multiple languages from Public Health- Seattle and King County
PCBs information from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Enforcement information for environmental laws, from the Washington State Department of Ecology
For information about efforts to clean up PCBs and other chemicals in the sediment of the Duwamish River visit:
• Lower Duwamish Waterway Group
• Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
• Environmental Protection Agency
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