Draft HMRC Meeting Minutes 7 December 2001
The Heavy metals Remediation Committee of the Vashon Maury Community Council met at 3:30 in the Library. In attendance were: May Gerstle, Jim English, Lyman Houghton, Shaheeda Pierce, Rita Schenck, and Steve Macdonald from the community, with Molly Gibbs from the Department of Ecology and Hillary Karasz-Dominguez and Bonnie Meyers from Public Health Seattle King County.
The minutes were read and accepted without modification and the agenda was modified to include discussion of tasks and timelines per the previous month's minutes.
It was agreed to send a letter of commendation for Lee Dorigan. Rita will draft it and May and Lyman will edit it for May's signature. It was also agreed that a card expressing our appreciation would be sent to Lee. Shaheeda will get the card.
Shaheeda, Lyman and Rita will get together this week to draft legislation for funding remediation on the island and for doing research.
Lyman will also be writing an article on the phytoremediation sampling project for the papers. Rita will help edit.
With Greg Nickels becoming mayor, there will be a musical chairs among our legislators. In January, May will be contacting whoever is the new person and begin a dialog.
The Phytoremediation samples are all taken and waiting in Rita's refrigeration for digestion. Help is needed for the lab work. We have asked VMICC for $1900 to pay for equipment and supplies for the digestion. We need to attend and bring friends to vote at the VMICC meeting on 17 December.
Shaheeda has a detailed timeline for the action committee, showing work to date as well as proposed work.
Rita had a much less detailed document (attached) showing the planned actions of the research committee.
Molly spoke about Ecology's upcoming publications on their website. They include the Statewide Public Participation Plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume, The project plan for the next 10 years and a Q&A (FAQ) document. Molly stated that the state expects the cleanup to take 100 years.
Ecology has found some money to test 5 to 10 "high risk" wells. They will be sampled by Ecology or Public Health, and must be shallow wells with broken seals. Molly solicited our help in getting owner's permission. We asked whether the data obtained would be kept confidential, or better yet if the sampling could be done blind. Molly said that she would get back to us.
Molly shared the abstracts from the conference on contaminated soils, sediments and water that she recently attended. They will be stored in the library.
Molly also noted that the statewide Real Estate group dealing with the Tacoma Smelter Plume was still up in the air.
The issue of the contract between King County and Ecology was raised. Ecology is only providing money for public relations for the Tacoma Smelter plume. Ecology is not interested in funding further studies of child use areas on the mainland at this time.
Vashon residents expressed strong objection to this state of affairs. There is a great deal of work that needs to be done to fix the problem caused by ASARCO, and public relations is not the way to do that. Difference of opinion about administrative overhead (the ostensible reason why negotiations have broken down between Ecology and King County on funding for studies) is a very poor reason for the money to support needed studies to stop flowing. A request was voiced to reassign Norm Peck.
IRPPC has at last received its grant from Ecology. It expects to hire a technical consultant by February 15th.
Our next meeting will be held on February 1st at 3:30 in the Library.
Respectfully Submitted
Rita Schenck
Research Subcommittee Committee Activities and Time Lines
December 7, 2001
Activity:
- Keep abreast of current research on heavy metals and report to committee (ONGOING)
- Develop and maintain relationships with researchers as necessary (ONGOING)
- Research appropriate methods for MTCA approved voluntary cleanup and write article (by March 2002)
- Report on on-island phytoremediation efforts (ongoing: first results in early 2002; first scientific article estimated September 2002)
- Assist in writing drafts of legislation to fund research (year end 2002)
- Write and update fact sheets for the community as necessary (ONGOING)
AGENDA
3:30-3:35 Opening Remarks & Introductions ???? May
3:35-3:40 Approve November meeting minutes---again, thank you Rita! (One copy goes to the library and one to Kyle to put on the VMICC website.)
3:40-3:45 Approve or amend agenda
3:45 –3:55 Letter of commendation for Lee Dorrigan---if yes, who writes it?
3:55-4:05 Update on phytoremediation project—timeline & $ needed Rita & Lyman
Update on committee activities and timelines (all)
4:05- 4:15 Review legislative proposals Liaison sub-committee
Discuss Fundraising, drafting legislation, follow up with new legislator4:15-4:30 Ecology issues---Molly Gibbs
4:30-4:40 Public Health Issues/Items ---status of Ag Survey, other? Hilary
4:40-4:50 IRPPC Update----Steve
4:50-5:00 Other business, then ADJOURN.
Next Heavy Metals meeting: Friday, Feb 1, 3:30-5 PM @ Vashon Library LYMAN
Next IRPPC meeting Thurs. Jan. 3, 7:15 PM @ Chamber of Commerce of COmmerce