KENT—Toxins from industrial wastes dumped more than 16 years ago in the Kent Highlands Landfill are being found in low levels in groundwater samples drawn at the site.
There's no threat to public health, but state and Seattle Public Utilities officials are monitoring the testing and debating about whether action should be taken to handle the toxic chemicals. Seattle is responsible for maintaining the site.
The public can comment on a review recently released by the state Department of Ecology.
Seattle is responsible for maintaining the site, which would include controlling contaminants that could leach into groundwater and eventually reach the Green River.
"We think it's time to do more than just monitoring the site," said David South, who manages the site for the Department of Ecology.
South and other officials for the state agency want Seattle to have consultants examine the site for solutions. They want Seattle to assess potential risk and propose options.
Jeff Neuner, a site manger with Seattle Public Utilities, said the city would like to simply continue monitoring the site to determine if there is a problem.
Neuner said city and state environmental officials "don't quite agree on the data" from tests of water samples from the wells on the landfill site.
Like state officials, Neuner pointed out there is no public health danger and there are no private wells in the area threatened with contamination.
The 60-acre Kent Highlands Landfill is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Kent-Des Moines Road and Military Road South. Seattle dumped refuse there, including industrial wastes, from 1968 to 1986. The site has since been graded and covered.
State officials say groundwater samples show contamination by vinyl chloride, which at higher levels increases cancer risks. The other concern is manganese, a naturally occurring element found in soil that can be hazardous in high doses.
Samples have found levels of vinyl chloride ranging from 0.06 parts per billion to 3.0 ppb. Federal standards say levels should be lower than 2.0 ppb, but state standards say it should be lower than 0.029 ppb.
Manganese is an element used to toughen steel alloys and is used in welding rods. Welders, miners or other workers exposed to high levels may suffer "manganese poisoning," which can cause slurred speech, memory loss, problems with balance and sleep disorders.
Tests from the Kent Highlands site have found manganese levels ranging from 0.6 to 0.7 milligrams per liter. The acceptable level is 0.05 or lower.
TO COMMENT
Public comment on the state's review of the Highlands Landfill will be accepted through Sept. 4.
Copies, titled "Second Periodic Review for the Kent Highlands Landfill," are available at the Kent Downtown Public Library or the Des Moines Public Library.
Information also is available at the state Web site at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/sites_information.html.
source: http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/139921 10aug03
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