The lessons of Commencement Bay

Journal Article · · EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5642211

Cirone, P; Coco, M ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Seattle, WA (United States)

The lobes of the glacier that carved Puget Sound thousands of years ago created numerous bays that became natural locations for port cities. Unfortunately, many of these bays then became natural sumps for the accumulation of toxic chemicals that those cities produced. One example is Commencement Bay on the shoreline of Tacoma, Washington. More than 280 point sources have polluted Commencement Bay. Many nonpoint sources also drain into it. Concerns about the potential ecological and human health effects of hazardous substances in sediments of the nearshore/tidal flats area of the bay led to its addition, in September 1983, to the National Priorities List (NPL) for cleanup under EPA's Superfund program. These concerns grew from earlier studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others, which had identified chemical contamination in nearshore sediments and abnormalities in fish. Once Commencement Bay became an NPL site, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was initiated, as required under the Superfund law,, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Conservation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The study was intended to define the risks to public health and the Commencement Bay environment and to prioritize areas for remedial action. As part of this RI/FS, a pioneering ecological assessment was conducted.

• OSTI ID: 5642211
• Journal Information: EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States), Journal Name: EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States) Vol. 19:1; ISSN 0145-1189; ISSN EPAJDB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
BAYS
COASTAL WATERS
CONTAMINATION
LAWS
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION SOURCES
PUGET SOUND
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
US SUPERFUND
WATER POLLUTION