With focus on toxics, Duwamish cleanup could leave other health problems unsolved

Published on in InvestigateWest

If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency isn’t going to ensure Seattle’s Duwamish River is clean enough for needy residents to fish there for their dinner, the agency needs to ensure those people get fish some other way – even if that means supplying seafood through food banks. Or building clean urban fishing ponds. Or giving people shares in a seafood cooperative akin to a community-supported-agriculture operation.

That’s one thrust of a new report by health advocates commenting on the EPA’s proposed cleanup plan for the heavily polluted Duwamish….

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New report released on health impacts of Duwamish River cleanup

Published on in UW Today

A new report released today, May 13, examines the potential health impacts of the Duwamish River cleanup on Native American tribes and other people who use the river for live or work nearby. The Health Impact Assessment report was produced by researchers at the UW School of Public Health in collaboration with community health researchers from Just Health Action and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group.

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Time to speak out is now on $305m Duwamish Cleanup Plan

Published on in KUOW / EarthFix

A century’s work of contamination to the city’s only river is about to get a $305 million cleanup. Before finalizing a decision on the proposed plan, the Environmental Protection Agency is asking the public to weigh in.

Some of the first Seattle residents to speak out on the plan were at the Concord International School gymnasium in South Park last Thursday. This is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Seattle, and that diversity was reflected at the meeting. Spanish, Vietnamese and Somali could be heard at tables set up around the room as south Seattle residents gathered to learn more and submit comments to the EPA.

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Cleanup Job Training program launched

Published on in West Seattle Herald

The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG is partnering with EPA’s Superfund Job Training Initiative to provide free river cleanup job training and placement assistance to qualified local residents.

“Local residents have borne the burden of the Duwamish River Superfund Site for many years; now they have the opportunity to benefit from jobs created by cleaning it up.”

Interested Duwamish Valley residents can contact Justin at DRCC/TAG for more information: jti@duwamishcleanup.org, or (206) 658-4375.

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Seattle’s Only River: Learn How You Can Help Save the Duwamish

Published on in Great City

The Duwamish River is Seattle’s only river. In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the lower Duwamish River a Superfund Site, meaning it is one of the most toxic hazardous waste sites in the nation. In February 2013, the EPA released a proposed cleanup plan that aims to restore the river through dredging (removing) contaminated soil, capping (covering) existing pollution leaving it behind, and natural recovery (not doing anything hoping clean sediment from upriver will eventually cover the pollution).

Fortunately, we have chance to speak up for a truly clean and safe river. But we only have until June 13th to provide our comments, input and concerns regarding the future of the Duwamish River.

 

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