We have been worried about heavy metals such as lead in the Metal Pile at the Bellingham Waterfront for a long time. We recently found that the Department of Ecology issued a Violation of the Port of Bellingham’s wastewater permit in April of 2023, of an exceedance of lead. See the document here. This is exceedingly concerning, along with the fact that ABC Recycling is in violation of their activity without their own wastewater permit.
The air test that the Port of Bellingham did in April of 2023 (the same month as the lead exceedance), has been deemed inconclusive as the air samples were all taken up wind of the dust activity, and meaningless as the sampling analysis plan is either non-existant or irrelevant to the dangers of toxic dust moving toward residential neighborhoods.
Although SaveTheWaterfront has not been able to fund an independent study of the dust spewing off the metal pile, there is a direct correlation, to contend that the wind is blowing lead particles into the developing Waterfront where a low income day care will be opening up soon. Even after days of solid rain, thick red dust clouds were seen in September coming off the piles toward the Portal, Pump Track and Mercy Housing.
Also concerning, a SEPA review and any Environmental Impact Statement about the Metal Pile project and activity, is strangely missing from all communications from the Port or the City. We are looking into this further and hope to report back soon.
By working with Troy Abel, WWU Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning Policy, we are finding out about other locations such as Winnipeg, Houston, Chicago and Seattle, where communities are stuck with the dangerous industrial and toxic nature of metal storage and shredding.
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