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A
Milky-white liquid was spotted entering a storm drain
right here in Ballard. In January, our Pollution
Prevention Director, Chris Wilke reported an unknown
substance flowing down the street and into a storm
drain. The Seattle Department of Health was
called and had inspectors on the scene within the
hour. The source was traced to a local restaurant
that was unaware that washing down greasy equipment
in the alley and allowing the greasy wastewater to
enter the storm drain is illegal.
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A
Fuel Spill by Ballard Locks was spotted early
Friday morning, August 10th by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
volunteers as they motored their sailboat into the
locks. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance notified the
Depoartment of Ecology at 8:10 am. The Coast
Guard was on the scene at 9:00 am, Ecology at 9:30
am and a private response company arrived at 10:00
am. The Coast Guard took samples from a couple
boats, but no conclusive evidence of the source was
found. They are guessing that the spill occurred
in the night or around dawn. The slick was too
thin to retrieve or clean.
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On
the water every week, stopping pollution every day
. . .
On
Tuesday, June 27 at 3:20 pm the crew and volunteers
on the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance patrol boat observed
clouds of heavy dust and areas of particulate matter
in the water coming from a ship being loaded in Elliott
Bay. Photos were taken and submitted, along
with an email report, to the Puget Sound Clean Air
Agency. After investigation by the Agency, they
reported back that the parties involved were committing
a violation and that they appreciated our report and
especially our pictures.
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The
Right Place at the Right Time
by Sue Joerger
It is summer and our waterways are awash with rainbow
sheens of smelly diesel fuel, swirls of blue paint
chips, latte colored mud, and trails of greasy food
debris and black oil leaking into storm drains.
Whether we are patrolling on the Duwamish River, Lake
Union Ship Canal or walking the docks around the Sound,
there is always something to report to the Department
of Ecology and US Coast Guard. The frustrating thing
is often we can't locate the source. And without a
source, we can't stop the activity.
But occasionally we are in the right place at the
right time. This summer, with the help of a Citizen
Soundkeeper, Barnacle Point Shipyard recently received
a warning from the Department of Ecology to stop the
discharge of paint and sanding chips from entering
the Ship Canal. Another investigation identified led
to the discovery of a small shipyard, operating without
the required Shipyard National Pollutant Discharge
and Elimination System Permit.
And, if we can document a series of violations, a
fine may be issued. The Duwamish Shipyard recently
received a $6,000 fine for three illegal discharges
from its graving dock on the Duwamish River that the
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Duwamish River Clean
Up Coalition documented last summer.
If you see pollution draining into Puget Sound or
any of our waterways, give us a call at 1800-42-PUGET.
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Local
Mallard observes swirling paint chips in the ship canal. |
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