In their last actions of the year, the governing board for the Port of Seattle on Tuesday approved $15 million for environmental remediation projects in 2011 as part of a five-year $68 million environmental program.
The port commission also approved a $5 million investment in the South Park Bridge replacement, and finalized an agreement with Puget Sound Energy that will see the energy firm purchase easements along the Eastside Rail Corridor for $13 million.
“Last week, we authorized a budget that reflects the priorities of generating jobs and protecting the environment,” said Commission President Bill Bryant in a statement.
“Today’s actions show that we are prepared to hit the ground running in 2011.”
The approved $15 million in environmental remediation funding will be split between projects at the seaport and at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The majority of the remediation funding will go toward cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site.
Along with partners King County, the City of Seattle, and the Boeing Company, the port is working with the US EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology to develop a remediation plan for the site. Specific projects include Terminal 117 sediments, bank and uplands; cleaning up contamination at Terminal 115 from former operations; and several other complementary projects throughout the Lower Duwamish area.
In addition, funding will go toward Sea-Tac remediation work at the former Lora Lake Apartments complex; remediation of groundwater at the former Olympic Fuel Farm site; and long-term monitoring of groundwater at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The port authority's Real Estate Division will also receive funding to continue clean-up efforts at Terminal 91, Fishermen’s Terminal and Terminal 5.
Friday, December 10, 2010
