“To protect residents from worsening air quality, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 4:00 p.m. January 11, 2012, until further notice,” reads a press release.

High pressure over the Puget Sound region will bring cold temperatures and calm winds, according to Clean Air Agency forecasters. Air quality is expected to deteriorate at least through Friday, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common.

Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

For more information:

• Frequently asked questions about burn bans
• How can one tell if their wood stove is certified, and OK to use during a Stage 1 burn ban?  Age matters – if the stove is over 20 years old, it is likely uncertified and prohibited for use during a burn ban.  Uncertified wood stoves are no longer legal to sell or purchase in the State of Washington due to the significant pollution they generate.  A certified stove will have an EPA label on the back.

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting will be from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 at the Burien library, and will focus on the ‘Tacoma Plume’ from the ASARCO plant in Tacoma.

Elizabeth Weldin, of the Toxics Cleanup Program with the Washington State Department of Ecology, will be speaking about the “Tacoma plume,” from the ASARCO plant in Tacoma.

“For almost 100 years, the Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in Tacoma. Air pollution from the smelter settled on the surface soil over more than 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound basin. Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are still in the soil as a result of this pollution.”

Learn how this affects you. How safe are we? Who is at risk? How does this impact the sustainability of Burien? Can I grow my own food? Can my kids play outside in the dirt? What businesses might be impacted? Land value? What steps can we make to mitigate the presence of arsenic and create a healthy and resilient community?

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting.

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 8th at 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Burien library, located at 400 SW 152nd Street.

INFO: Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

Come join us for learning, exploring and more….www.sustainableburien.org

Ecology's map shows the widespread contamination from the Asarco Plume.

The Washington State Department of Ecology will be holding a public meeting on Dec. 6th, as part of its comment period about a cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

The free meeting, which is open to the public, will run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Activity Center, located at 2045 South 216th Street.

If you’re not familiar with Asarco or the Tacoma Smelter Plume, it’s a story of historic, major air pollution – over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination from this one plant in Tacoma (including the Burien area).

According to Ecology’s website:

This plan includes soil cleanup for the most contaminated areas of the plume and for play areas. It also manages risk by educating people about how to protect themselves.

Why it matters

Over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination. You could be affected! Arsenic and lead are toxic, especially to children.

What to comment on

Our reading guide explains more about what’s in the plan and what to comment on. Ecology is offering different services, depending on where you live. You may also have specific questions if you are a parent, teacher, developer, land use planner, real estate agent, or thinking about buying or selling a home.

How to submit comments

Check the comment period webpage for where to send comments. We also list all the staff available to answer questions.

Public Meetings

All meetings run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.:

• Nov. 9, 2011 McMurray Middle School cafeteria, 9329 Cemetery Rd., Vashon Island
• Nov. 16, 2011 Curtis High School cafeteria, 8425 40th St. W., University Place
• Dec. 6, 2011 Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 South 216th St., Des Moines

Ecology's map shows the widespread contamination from the Asarco Plume.

The Washington State Department of Ecology will be holding a public meeting in Des Moines on Dec. 6th, as part of its comment period about a cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

The meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Activity Center, located at 2045 South 216th Street.

If you’re not familiar with Asarco or the Tacoma Smelter Plume, it’s a story of historic, major air pollution – over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination from this one plant in Tacoma.

According to Ecology’s website:

This plan includes soil cleanup for the most contaminated areas of the plume and for play areas. It also manages risk by educating people about how to protect themselves.

Why it matters

Over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination. You could be affected! Arsenic and lead are toxic, especially to children.

What to comment on

Our reading guide explains more about what’s in the plan and what to comment on. Ecology is offering different services, depending on where you live. You may also have specific questions if you are a parent, teacher, developer, land use planner, real estate agent, or thinking about buying or selling a home.

How to submit comments

Check the comment period webpage for where to send comments. We also list all the staff available to answer questions.

Public Meetings

All meetings run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.:

• Nov. 9, 2011 McMurray Middle School cafeteria, 9329 Cemetery Rd., Vashon Island
• Nov. 16, 2011 Curtis High School cafeteria, 8425 40th St. W., University Place
• Dec. 6, 2011 Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 South 216th St., Des Moines

People For Puget Sound invites residents to a free, family-friendly ‘Rain Water’ tour on Saturday, July 30, beginning at the lower parking area of Seahurst Park, 2400 SW 140th St., from 10 a.m. to Noon.

The tour will be led by knowledgeable experts who will show how to reduce and eliminate the flow of toxic pollution into Puget Sound.

When it rains, pollution like oil, grease, pesticides and pet waste washes off streets, parking lots and other hard surfaces into local waterways and Puget Sound, harming the health of birds, fish, whales and people.

From their website:

The Burien Rain Water Tour discusses watershed and polluted basics and provides and introduction to Low Impact Developments suitable for city parks and personal homes alike. Experts on Low Impact Development, members of the Environmental Science Center and community members will join the tour and provide insight on the polluted runoff system and low impact development within Burien. The tour begins at the lower parking lot of Seahurst Park with an introduction to polluted runoff and the impacts it has on us as everyday citizens. From there we will proceed through the park to the Burien Raingarden Cluster to hear from homeowners about the process of implementing a raingarden. We will then walk back to our starting location with the tour concluded after a Q&A session with the tour speakers and the representatives present from People For Puget Sound and the Environmental Science Center.

To reserve your place, contact Maddie Foutch at MFoutch@u.washington.edu.

These interactive tours are scheduled to take place in neighborhoods throughout Puget Sound region. For more information and a schedule, go to: http://pugetsound.org/programs/education/runoff/pollution.

Seahurst Park is located at 2400 SW 140th, and guests should meet in the lower parking lot at 10 a.m.

We don’t like seeing ‘gunk’ in streams ourselves, so we sent the photos on to Doug Osterman, who serves as Green/Duwamish Watershed Coordinator for King County. Doug wasn’t exactly sure himself, so he forwarded the following pics on to Doug Navetski of the King County Water Quality Compliance Unit:

“The ‘brown gunk’ could be iron bacteria,” said Osterman. ”Doug (Navestski) told me that they do not view, at this point in time, the appearance of this bacteria as an indicator of pollution.”

Here’s what Navetski said in an email reply after viewing the pics:

This looks like iron bacteria that we often encounter in well sampling. We see it pop up to the surface every once in a while.

Clues which indicate that iron bacteria may be present in well water are:

• TASTES AND ODORS – Iron bacteria often produce unpleasant tastes and odors commonly reported as: “swampy,” “oily or petroleum,” “cucumber,” “sewage,” “rotten vegetation,” or “musty.” The taste or odor may be more noticeable after the water has not been used for some time. Iron bacteria do not produce hydrogen sulfide, the “rotten egg” smell, but do create an environment where sulfur bacteria can grow and produce hydrogen sulfide.
• COLOR – Iron bacteria will usually cause yellow, orange, red, or brown stains and colored water. It is also sometimes possible to see a rainbow colored, oil-like sheen on the water.
• RED SLIMY DEPOSITS – Iron bacteria produce a sticky slime which is typically rusty in color, but may be yellow, brown, or grey. A “feathery,” or filamentous growth may also be seen, particularly in standing water such as a toilet tank.

The characteristics listed above are typical of iron bacteria. However, objectionable stains, tastes, or odors may be due to other causes including iron, sulfate, hydrogen sulfide, manganese, or other nuisance organisms such as sulfur bacteria. Identification of substances in water is best done by having a laboratory test a water sample. Many laboratories provide iron bacteria tests for costs under $35. It is also a good idea to evaluate the sanitary quality of the well by doing two things: (1) testing the water for nitrate-nitrogen and coliform bacteria; and (2) assuring that the well is properly constructed, located, and maintained.

So…have YOU seen this ‘brown gunk’ before? Do you think it’s some kind of pollution, or do you accept the county’s explanation?

Please let us know in Comments below…

On Friday, Nov. 26th Burien resident Wayne Sykes sent us the above photos and following email about an oil spill that he spotted off of Burien’s shoreline, west of SW 152nd:

Appears to be a small fuel slick off Burien, west of SW 152nd, rainbow sheen on water with fuel oil smell in air at about 11:30 AM.

After we responded to his email, he sent us the following on Saturday:

I smelled the oil as I was leaving, so called it in to NRC (the National Response Center, a federal agency that handles oil spill reports) who notified Coast Guard. Do not know if any agency ever responded; they called my house asking for updates after I left, so probably no agency spent the budget to followup. Probably too “small” to warrant any response, and with wind and waves was long gone by the time I returned.

…seems to be a “light” petrol product. Other neighbors have reported the spill to WA Ecology. Coast Guard supposed to send an investigator today (Saturday, Nov. 27th). Supposedly a spill was reported in Tacoma area also today.

Saw an otter frantically jumping out of water just past spill area a few minutes ago.  But did not have camera ready.  Otters live in the bulkheads along this stretch (large boulders do provide habitat for some water creatures).

Here’s what we know:

• Because this spill is in Puget Sound, it is out of the jurisdiction of the city of Burien.
• It appears that this is now a state issue, specifically with the State Department of Ecology.
• We sent an inquiry to a representative from Ecology, but have not yet heard back, most likely because it’s a holiday weekend.

As we learn more about this, we’ll update the blog so check back often.

Put down those matches folks – King County announced Wednesday (July 14) that it will enact a burn ban beginning Thursday, July 15, and running through Sept. 30th.

Here’s the full announcement posted on their website:

Fire marshal calls for burn ban

In concert with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Pierce, Mason and Snohomish Counties, King County has called a Phase 1 burn ban to take effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 15 and will run through Sept. 30. This burn ban applies throughout King County in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Forest and yard debris burning is not allowed under a Phase 1 ban. This burn ban does not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.

This Phase 1 burn ban still allows recreational campfires in approved fire pits. However, campfires and fire pits are allowed only if they are located on private land with the landowner’s permission and if built according to the specifications below. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds;
• Grow no larger than three feet across;
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including a 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual with immediate access to a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

“With local temperatures rising, we have called this burn ban to protect public health and safety during the summer months,” King County Fire Marshal Jim Chan said, announcing the burn ban. “This ban will be in effect throughout the summer and will be lifted on Sept. 30.”

For more information on local fire restrictions, the public can call the King County Fire Marshal Division at 206-296-6763 or 1-800-323-BURN. To monitor the status of this burn ban, consult the Fire Marshal Website.

The Port of Seattle is conducting a “Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study” (RI/FS) for the Lora Lake Apartments site in Burien, with a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 4th, from 7pm – 9pm at the Highline School District’s Educational Resource and Administration Center (15675 Ambaum Blvd., SW).

Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with Department of Ecology and Port staff members about the property and its pollution, get answers to questions or concerns they may have, and provide comments at the meeting.

As we previously reported, the Port of Seattle wants to develop facilities for airport-compatible activities at this location , such as air cargo, food service and warehouses, and on other property it owns within Burien’s Northeast Planning Area north of the airport. The City of Burien is working with the Port on a redevelopment strategy for this area, called the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA). The goal is to transform it from a mixture of vacant, residential, public and small commercial land uses to uses compatible with airport operations and existing and planned surrounding land uses. Possible land uses include an auto mall, business park or airport-related facilities.

City Manager Mike Martin has said that an interchange near this location would increase the value of the Lora Lake site for business development.

The Port is attempting to identify the nature and extent of contamination associated with former operations at the site, including a barrel-cleaning company in the 1940s and 1950s and an auto-wrecking facility from roughly 1960 to 1981. A 22-building apartment complex was built in 1987, then bought by the Port in 1998 before finally being totally demolished in late 2009.

An aircraft prepares to land on the third runway, which is less than 1,000 feet away from the Lora Lake property.

At one point in 2007, the Burien City Council came to an agreement with King County to turn the apartment complex into a low-income affordable housing, but that deal fell through.

The Port demolished remaining structures on the property in 2009 because vacant buildings pose public safety hazards from arson, accidental fires and vandalism.  The Port demolished only above-ground structures, and took measures – under Ecology oversight – not to disturb potentially contaminated soil.

Environmental samples taken in preparation for that demolition showed higher than expected levels of contaminants from the pre-apartment-complex activities at the site. The 2009 legal agreement, known as an Agreed Order, lays out a process under which the Port will evaluate the nature and extent of contamination at the site and assess cleanup options. The draft site study and public participation plans, drawn up by the Port, are steps in that process.

Pollutants associated with the site’s former activities include petroleum products, dioxin, solvents and other contaminants.

The study will assess alternative methods of cleaning up the contamination, under a 2009 legal agreement between the Department of Ecology and the Port of Seattle, which owns the property.

The draft plan for the process – called a remedial investigation and feasibility study – and a draft public-participation plan will be available for public comment through May 24th at:

• Burien Public Library – 400 SW 152nd St., 206-243-3490.
• Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue – by appointment, 425-649-7190 – 3190 160th Ave. SE.

The draft plans and related information are available for public review here.

A fact sheet on Lora Lake Apartments site and the draft plans is available here.

If you need special accommodations, please contact Nancy Lui at nlui461@ecy.wa.gov or at (425) 649-7117 to make arrangements prior to the public meeting.

Arbor Lake is one, small, unhealthy lake.

Within the next few weeks, the City of Burien will annex this lake into the city. The lake’s health problems, in large part, come from its public access. A couple times per month, citizen scientists visit Arbor Lake to perform visual assessments of the environmental and physical conditions around the lake. The reports from those visits are not good. Currently, King County has a clean-up crew at Arbor Lake seven days per week. The crew reports that there is litter (bottles, cans, paper, plastics, paint cans, used condoms, needles, etc.), biological wastes (poop, vomit), damage to the park equipment and gang tagging daily to clean up. They worry that Burien will not have the financial resources to provide this seven day a week routine just to maintain the lake and surrounding area at its current level. The worst damage happens to the lake on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is a time at which Burien typically does not contract for park clean up.

Photo courtesy Arbor Lake area resident Colleen West.

A number of the neighbors around Arbor Lake say that they would never consider swimming in the lake because the water quality is so poor. Several drainage pipes empty into the lake and there is a lot of non-point pollution entering the lake. Arbor Lake is obviously infested with fecal coliform bacteria (E.coli) because of the amount of poop that is around the lake at times. Remember E.coli is that stuff that sickened and killed people who ate infected food. The major cause of this E.coli is not from birds. It is from humans and dogs pooping in and around the lake. During the summer, the lake has major infestations of invasive weeds that choke out the oxygen in the lake and make the water impossible to sustain any fish. At that time, the water is not healthy for the birds to use either.

Photo courtesy Arbor Lake area resident Colleen West.

The Native Plant society has attempted to help the lake by planting some native plants but clearly a great deal more needs to be done to help this small lake get back on the road to recovery. Most of the homes on the east side of the lake are heavily gated to protect the owners from public intrusion into their homes and property. No Trespassing signs are everywhere. The road running along the west side of the lake has had to be blockaded due to car racing and crimes. The King County Sheriff frequently has to visit the lake. Like Lake Hicks, Arbor Lake has fared poorly with public access. The City of Burien will be picking up a big financial bill, if it plans to care for and restore Arbor Lake.

Photo courtesy Arbor Lake area resident Colleen West.

What Burien really needs to provide for citizens is a swimming pool where they can learn to swim and enjoy the pleasure of water exercise. Most small lakes do not do well (water health wise) having heavy public access. Arbor Lake and Hicks Lake have not been able to meet the demands that the greater public has on them and perhaps that is not their real ecological purpose. These fragile bodies of freshwater are not sketchy line drawings on paper, art work, public swimming pools or public garbage cans. They are living, functioning natural systems that deserve respect, understanding, protection and care. Do not plan on having your kids swim in Arbor Lake soon for both your kids’ and the lake’s health.

– Chestine Edgar

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