Minutes of the Heavy Metals Remediation Committee

Minutes of the Heavy Metals Remediation Committee (draft)

3/5/04 3:30 p.m. at the Vashon Island Library

Present: May Gerstle, Shaheeda Pierce, Rita Schenck, Dan Scheuler, Adam Rawson, Brian Smith, Marian Abbott (Department of Ecology,) Bonnie Meyer (Public Health – Seattle & King County.)

Approved agenda and minutes from last meeting.

Brian reported on dumping into the waters on Maury – looks to be illegal – Marian will check and report back.

Upcoming HMRC activities-

Symposium in October "Dirt III"

focus on pets and wildlife
Asthma and allergies

WHO: Shaheeda, Adam, May, Rita

Phytoremediation

WHO: Adam, Dan, Shaheeda

Soil Building Project

Tofu Factory
Vashon Sand and Gravel
DIGS
Island Meadow
Wax Orchard

WHO: Rita

Clean-up Dockton Park

WHO: Shaheeda

Camp Sealth, Morningside,/Mormons

WHO: Rita

Rita has moved to the Beall Greenhouse Property and it will be used as a demonstration site to make Vashon a Sustainable Island.
She’s hoping to use part of the Ecology grant (via IRPPC) to look into the soil building project which includes doing a business plan.
Marian’s Ecology report: Ecology sent letter to ASARCO saying they are a potentially liable party and we’ve waiting for their response- Money would help with long-term education and outreach – opens up the possibility for a third party lawsuit, for example the Mormon Church has an undeveloped property outside the Superfund site where arsenic levels of 1000 ppm were found.
Shaheeda and Nan will work on the edits to the video.
Bonnie’s Public Health report: Distributed "Dirt Can Hurt" brochures that are being distributed on Vashon and in the areas of concern.

Presented information at Master Gardeners training. They will use the PH materials and distribute to interested parties.
Planning two STARS childcare provider trainings this year to teach about soil safety.
Went to Chautauqua today and gave them nail brushes. Planning more school outreach.
Working with IKEA where they sell shoe racks, help to promote taking off shoes inside.
Articles about the King County campaign to take off shoes appeared in the UTNE Reader and Natural Home magazines.

Healthcare Practitioners Handbook Report- Shaheeda- Received $360.00 from the VMICC and $140 from Jolene’s Ambulance Company – Unanimous vote

Dan and Allison Jones will help with the grant writing. Both VMICC and Jolene will need invoices for the work.

Rita talked about the Heavy Metals in the Garden brochure and what’s going to the vendors.

Database on contaminants in the fertilizers will be going to the vendors who are selling them on Vashon.

Next meeting will be May 7, 2004 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the library.