No. 07-015
February 12, 2007
Contact: Jane Chavey, 360-902-1721
Creosote Cleanup in Bellingham Bay
Pier and hundreds of toxic-laden pilings removed as part of Puget Sound Initiative
OLYMPIA – One major step in the cleanup and restoration of Bellingham Bay is under way today, announced Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland. Hundreds of creosote-laden pilings and a dock are being removed from the waterway, setting the stage for restoration along the shore and into the estuary.
"Partnerships are critical in revitalizing Bellingham Bay— both environmentally and economically,” said Sutherland, who also administers the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Through this cooperative project, we’re not only removing harmful carcinogens, but we’re also restoring critical marine habitat. Tackling each step of this project brings vast improvements to the bay and to the greater community.”
“Under the Bellingham Bay partnership, we have been learning to manage our shorelines so that we can keep essential waterfront jobs while improving critical fish habitat," said Port Executive Director Jim Darling. "Squalicum Creek is a place that will demonstrate we can have both. We thank DNR for taking the first step, by removing abandoned structures. The port is taking the lead in the next step, which will be a restoration project to remove barriers to fish passage within the creek itself.”
Cleanup must be completed before fish migration begins mid-March
DNR is overseeing the work by ACC-Hurlen to dismantle creosote structures. The roughly $400,000 contract will pay for removal of more than 600 pilings and about 15,000 square feet of dock structure from the Squalicum Creek estuary. The pier was built for post-World War II shipbuilding and has been failing in the winter storms. The failing dock structure and the planned restoration of the estuary made this a priority site over others in the north Puget Sound. This project reduces toxic input and is the start of a restoration project which will provide habitat for many marine species. Work must be completed by March 14, before fish migration begins.
If time allows, the contractor will tackle additional sites in Bellingham Bay, including a dock and pilings in Fairhaven, pilings along the shoreline from Boulevard Park to Cornwall Avenue, and the barge-loading dock at Cornwall Avenue. If not, they will return and finish the project in Bellingham Bay during the summer.
The Whatcom Beach Watchers also will assist by resurveying and monitoring beaches for creosote-treated debris and will remove creosote and other toxic-laden materials from beaches over the next few years, as needed.
The long-term cleanup of Bellingham Bay
This project combines two major efforts. Creosote cleanup of this waterway is part of Governor Gregoire’s Puget Sound Initiative, a Sound-wide effort to reduce toxic pollution and protect the health of marine habitat. This toxics cleanup and restoration is part of the Bellingham Bay Pilot Project that, for the past ten years, has focused on cleaning up and restoring the Bay. Major partners in this project include the Port of Bellingham, city of Bellingham, state Departments of Ecology and Fish and Wildlife, local tribes, federal agencies, Georgia Pacific and volunteer organizations.
DNR is an active partner in this effort as a manager of many of the waterfront tidelands, bedlands and waterways and is playing a role in the cleanup of the bay and the waterfront redevelopment. This project is the first step in one of the restoration efforts designed as a part of the Pilot Project. DNR will be removing some structures in Squalicum Waterway, as well as other derelict structures around the bay.
Creosote and other toxics being permanently removed
Research has shown that the same compounds that make creosote an excellent chemical to protect wood structures in the water is toxic to key fish species and is a carcinogen to humans.
Creosote-impregnated products have been used in and around marine waters since the 1940s. Tons of creosoted materials have been found on beaches—contaminating the area and putting people, fish and other aquatic species at risk.
Removals from beaches in north Puget Sound were begun in March 2005. The focus has been on sites that are accessible to the public or are feeding areas for fish – especially forage fish. Currently, DNR has funded or assisted in nine creosote-laden log removal projects from beaches in the North Sound, totaling more than 825 tons. A couple of removals also took place in the South Sound.
Getting to the source
Now DNR and partners are working on eliminating the source of this material – old derelict docks and pilings. The current piling and structure inventory indicates that more than 20,000 tons need to be removed. The Legislature included $2 million in this year’s DNR budget, and Governor Gregoire is requesting an additional $4 million for the coming biennium. The primary focus will be on pilings. DNR also will use restoration dollars, matching funds, grants and in-kind contributions to finance beach cleanups.
Steward and manager of state aquatic lands
The 2.4 million acres of state-owned aquatic (mostly submerged) lands are a ‘public trust’ managed and protected by DNR for all the people of Washington. Revenue is generated from the sale of renewable resources such as geoduck and other shellfish, and leases of marinas and other buildings on the aquatic lands. This revenue is used to protect the health and productivity of aquatic resources, and help fund local projects that create public access to aquatic lands.
Doug Sutherland is the 12th Commissioner of Public Lands since statehood in 1889.
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