ASARCO Clean-Up Plan Could Hinder Infill Development

The main item on this week’s City Council study session agenda is an update on the Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Sampling and Cleanup Program. Representatives from the Washington Department of Ecology will review implementation of Ecology’s Final Interim Action Plan for residential cleanup in areas affected by the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

According to the Daily Index, the final interim plan contains four main components: a residential sampling and remediation program; a soil safety program; ongoing education and outreach; and encouraging sampling and cleanup during development. The plan for residential cleanup takes into account some comments made on the 2011 plan, but some concerns remain about potential impacts the cleanup plan could have on residential development in the City, as expressed in the memorandum from Planning and Development Services:

Limiting the cleanup program to developed single-family lots will be a detriment to this infill development. While free technical assistance and guidance from Ecology is useful, the most expensive part of a cleanup is often the actual removal and disposal of the contaminated soil, and replacement with clean fill. We have had instances with smaller developments which, via SEPA mitigation, have faced extreme financial hardship and project delays due to cleanup efforts. Since the settlement funds are meant to respond to Asarco contamination throughout the plume, use of some portion of the funds to assist property owners in actual soil removal or encapsulation should be considered. It would also be beneficial if ASARCO would expand the program to include support of new development, especially of infill lots.

Tacoma’s Comprehensive Plan emphasizes encouraging density through infill development, focusing the accommodation of additional population through construction of residential development on under-developed lots. Because the area affected by the smelter plume covers nearly half of the city, and because Tacoma’s SEPA threshold at which site clean-up can be required for residential development is set at a very low four units, there is reason for concern that clean-up requirements could impose an overwhelming cost burden, creating a disincentive for infill development.

In order to avoid this, City comments on the 2011 plan included a recommendation that Ecology consider providing clean-up services or funds to new developments below a certain size threshold, or consider cost-sharing options. To see the full text of this and other City recommendations, view the memorandum and comments on the ASARCO Smelter Plume clean-up plan (pdf). To see whether Ecology will take any of this into consideration, tune in to today’s study session.