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From:notification@civiclive.com
To:Jennifer Cisneros
Subject:Party of Record/Public Comments 2021-12-16 07:51 AM(PST) Submission Notification
Date:Thursday, December 16, 2021 7:51:20 AM
Party of Record/Public Comments 2021-12-16 07:51 AM(PST) was submitted by Guest on
12/16/2021 10:51:10 AM (GMT-08:00) Canada/Pacific
Name Value
NameFile:LUA21-000378
Gender Ms.
Name Kelli Sheldon
Address:P.O. Box 330316 Shoreline, WA 98133-9716
Email kelli.sheldon@ecy.wa.gov
Phone 206-594-0014
Party of Record Only
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) notice of application utilizing the
optional determination of nonsignificance (ODNS/NOA) process for
the Renton Station Switchgear Building project. Based on review of
the checklist associated with this project, the Department of Ecology
(Ecology) has the following comments: Toxics Cleanup Program Jing
Song, (425) 229-2565, jing.song@ecy.wa.gov Section B,
Environmental Elements; Subsection 7, Environmental Health. The
proposed SEPA project is located on a site listed on the MTCA
Confirmed and Suspected Contaminated Sites List – Olympic
Pipeline Co Renton Station site (cleanup site ID 2978, facility site ID
2400). Ecology appreciates the discussion in the current SEPA
proposal that petroleum-impacted soil may be countered during
excavation. The current SEPA proposal confirmed that encountered
contaminated soil will be disposed offsite to an approved soil disposal
facility. Based on the existing data currently available to Ecology,
shallow groundwater in the proposed construction area is also
contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Groundwater depths in
the area are reportedly as shallow as 3 feet below ground surface. It is
Ecology’s opinion that petroleum-impacted groundwater may be
encountered during excavation. In addition, multiple monitoring wells
and remediation wells, as well as remediation piping and
aboveground compound are located within or near the proposed
construction area. Please add following information and mitigation
measures in the checklist: • Hazardous waste operations worker
training, health/safety plan, and site control requirements, per WAC
296-843. • Management of potential contaminated soil and
groundwater encountered during excavations, including sampling,
containment, and disposal at a permitted facility. • Potential impacts
of the construction project on ongoing contaminant remediation at the
Comments
site, including procedures to prevent damage to site monitoring wells.
• Please coordinate with the cleanup responsible party to minimize the
impacts to current remediation. Toxics Cleanup Program Eva Barber,
(360) 999-9593, eva.barber@ecy.wa.gov This proposed project is
located in an area that may have been contaminated with heavy metals
due to the air emissions originating from the old Asarco smelter in
north Tacoma (visit Ecology’s Tacoma Smelter Plume map search
tool: https://apps.wa.gov/ecy/dirtalert/). Soil contamination from the
former Asarco smelter poses a risk to human health and the
environment. Children are at especially high risk from direct exposure
to contaminated soil. Construction workers, landscapers, gardeners,
and others who work in the soils are also at risk. Washington State
Department of Ecology recommends that the lead agency include the
following as conditions of approval, prior to the issuance of any site
development permits or the initiation of grading, filling, or clearing: •
Sample the soil and analyze for arsenic and lead following the 2019
Tacoma Smelter Plume Guidance. The soil sampling results shall be
sent to Ecology for review. • If lead or arsenic are found at
concentrations above the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup
levels (Chapter 173-340 WAC); the owners, potential buyers,
construction workers, and others shall be notified of their occurrence.
The MTCA cleanup level for arsenic is 20 parts per million (ppm) and
lead is 250 ppm. • If lead, arsenic and/or other contaminants are found
at concentrations above MTCA cleanup levels, the applicant shall: 1.
Develop soil remediation plan and enter into the Voluntary Cleanup
Program with Ecology. For more information on the Voluntary
Cleanup Program, visit Ecology website at:
https://ecology.wa.gov/Spills-Cleanup/Contamination-
cleanup/Cleanup-process/Cleanup-options/Voluntary-cleanup-
program. 2. Obtain an opinion letter from Ecology stating that the
proposed soil remediation plan will likely result in no further action
under MTCA. The applicant shall provide to the local permitting
agency the opinion letter from Ecology. 3. Prior to finalizing site
development permits, provide to the local land use permitting agency
“No Further Action” determination from Ecology indicating that the
remediation plans were successfully implemented under MTCA. • If
soils are found to be contaminated with arsenic, lead, or other
contaminants, extra precautions shall be taken to avoid escaping dust,
soil erosion, and water pollution during grading and site construction.
Site design shall include protective measures to isolate or remove
contaminated soils from public spaces, yards, and children’s play
areas. Contaminated soils generated during site construction shall be
managed and disposed of in accordance with state and local
regulations, including the Solid Waste Handling Standards regulation
(Chapter 173-350 WAC). For information about soil disposal contact
the local health department in the jurisdiction where soils will be
placed. The link below provides a fact sheet that explains more how
the arsenic and lead clean-up levels were set and why Ecology sees
that they are protective for human health:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1109095.html
For assistance and information about Tacoma Smelter Plume and
soils contamination, contact Eva Barber. Thank you for considering
these comments from the Department of Ecology. If you have
questions or would like to respond to these comments, please contact
one of the commenters listed above.
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To view this form submission online, please follow the link below:
https://rentonwa.gov/form/one.aspx?
objectId=18205375&contextId=17174246&returnto=submissions