View From the Helm:  The Mission and the Motivation

By Chris Wilke, Executive Director & Soundkeeper 

On an average day, 143,000 pounds of toxic pollution flow into Puget Sound from stormwater runoff alone; still more pollution enters our waters from point-source discharges, failing septics, aerial deposition and inadequate sewage treatment.  It is our mission at Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is to protect and preserve Puget Sound by tracking down and stopping the discharge of toxic pollutants into the waters of the Sound. 

Pollution is not a warm and fuzzy topic. I am sure that every supporter, staff member, volunteer, and Board member of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has something beyond stopping pollution as their prime motivation for protecting the Sound – some motivation that speaks to their individual values, interests or passions. Maybe it is the dream of restoring our salmon to their former abundance; or of access to clean and fresh locally-harvested shellfish; or the hope that our magnificent orca whales will no longer be endangered because of an increasingly limited and toxic food supply; or perhaps it is the obvious need for safe beaches and communities for our children’s future. 

If you are like me it is all of the above. However I think we all agree on one thing:  that the overall health of our region depends on a thriving and healthy Puget Sound ecosystem that is free of pollution. Whatever the underlying vision, we recognize that this vision requires clean water. This is why we have come together to protect and preserve Puget Sound as members, supporters, colleagues, volunteers, staff and Board members; and it is why we keep the word Alliance in our name. The task of stopping pollution is incredibly important for our shared future, and it is what brings us together. 

Stormwater and point source pollution are degrading our waters and our treasured salmon, shellfish and orca whales.  Even though only a handful of the toxic pollutants entering the Sound are meaningfully regulated, these regulations are crafted with the goal of achieving legally-enforceable water quality standards which are based on proven science. Currently over 1,000 waterbody segments in our region do not meet these standards and the state of Washington is woefully behind in developing the required plans to bring our waters back into compliance. 

Although they would never admit it, many polluters and enforcement agencies act as if pollution laws and regulations are minor offenses and justify only occasional or lax enforcement – perhaps somewhere between jaywalking and not licensing a pet.  Pollution violations are serious offenses, and remedies need to come as swiftly as possible – not over the course of many years or by waiting for better clarity in the next permit. We simply do not have enough time. 

Often those responsible for pollution respond to enforcement actions by saying “I am an environmentalist.  I want a clean Sound as much as anyone.”  It is a common refrain. However merely wanting a clean Sound will not get us a clean Sound.  I think it is safe to say that we all want clean water, but some of us may just want it a little more than others; and some of us are willing to make a little extra effort to protect our resource, restore our salmon, and stop the pollution that closes shellfish beds and poisons orca whales. Whether it is personal choices like where to wash our cars; business decisions like whether to invest in stormwater treatment; regulatory discretion like whether to require a corrective action or simply suggest it; or high-level agency decisions like whether to issue a permit on schedule, or issue one that will achieve state and federal water quality standards – we all have the ability to do more. At Soundkeeper, our challenge is to dedicate our limited resources to achieve the biggest impact and the most benefit to protect and preserve Puget Sound and we are doing just that.

Considering the enormity of the task, it is easy to get discouraged; however in looking at some recent milestones, we can see that our “Alliance” is indeed getting significant results in a variety of areas. Combined sewer overflows are significantly reduced at several municipalities, including the City of Bremerton where nearby shellfish beds have reopened for the first time in decades. Certain industrial and boatyard facilities have reduced heavy metals in stormwater by up to 99% in response to stronger regulations, better technology or enforcement action.  Others are well on their way and have systems that will soon come online.

Often the solutions are win-win. Such is the case with low impact development (LID) technologies that treat stormwater on-site with plants and infiltration systems that mimic a natural forested environment. Although we are still learning, early results show that we can actually create jobs, save money and improve water quality.

There is much left to do and our region’s stated goal of recovering Puget Sound by 2020 is not a foregone conclusion. However, despite the size of the challenge that remains, I am encouraged by the fact that nature is also incredibly resilient; and given half a chance and with a little help from those dedicated to protecting it, I firmly believe Puget Sound and its surrounding waters will rebound at a rate that will surprise all of us.

All Aboard! Soundkeeper Makes a Splash at the 2011 Boat Show

by Katelyn Kinn, Pollution Prevention and Legal Affairs

Puget Sound is home to 50,000 permanently moored recreational vessels, a community the size of a small city.  Many of those boaters turned out for the 64th Annual Seattle Boat Show.  Not one to miss the boat, Soundkeeper joined nearly 400 other exhibitors for the 10-day event and conducted clean boating outreach from the booth we shared with Washington Sea Grant.  (photo courtesy of the Seattle Boat Show)

The 2011 edition of Sound Information: A Boater’s Guide was hot off the press, just in time to distribute 875 copies to the crowds of boat show attendees who were eager to dive into the latest edition of this recognized environmental resource for boaters in Puget Sound.  Staff and volunteers also handed out 813 clean boating kits, which include various pollution prevention and educational materials nicely packaged in a reusable blue “Pump, Don’t Dump” bag to remind boaters of the importance of using marine head pumpout facilities.

As first-hand beneficiaries of the spectacular beauty and richness of Puget Sound, recreational boaters are naturals to be environmental stewards.  Soundkeeper’s clean boating outreach is designed to increase awareness and provide information to help prevent the discharge of boating-related pollution into Puget Sound.  Common boating pollution sources include sewage, gray water, oil and fuel, cleaning chemicals, maintenance debris/ spills, bottom paint (sanding, painting, cleaning, ablation), solid waste (trash and marine debris) and improper hazardous waste storage and disposal.  The Boat Show provides a great opportunity for Soundkeeper to connect with boaters and highlight the importance of preserving and protecting the waterways we all cherish.

Soundkeeper is proud to partner with Washington Sea Grant and Washington State Parks and Recreation on this project.

Soundkeeper to the Rescue!

by Katelyn Kinn, Pollution Prevention and Legal Affairs

When a Camano Island resident could not get help from the Department of Ecology, Department of Natural Resources, Island County Environmental Health Department and Army Corps of Engineers about a mysterious school bus-size structure of metal and foam that washed up on the beach, she turned to the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Hotline (1-800-42PUGET).  Although the Corps promised to put the debris removal into their schedule, the Camano residents had to sit by and watch as each high tide beat a few more pieces off the foam chunk, scattering some and washing more out to sea.

This structure was generating pieces of foam debris daily that was endangering marine wildlife, and like most forms of plastic, would likely persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Soundkeeper took action, and with the help of the local residents, organized a beach cleanup.  On Saturday, February 19th, 25 residents and concerned friends turned up at Camano Island’s southeast Tyee Beach for an inspiring cleanup effort that resulted in the removal of 1,540 pounds (over ¾ ton!) of debris from the beach.

The group worked tirelessly, some sifting through heaps of flotsam to separate the foam from the sand and rocks while others disassembled large foam pieces to enable transport to the dump truck nearby.    While the large 18-foot-long structures will remain on the beach until the Army Corps of Engineers hauls them away later this month, the locals succeeded in cleaning up the smaller chunks of debris and preventing immeasurable harm to marine life, habitat and water quality.  The cleanup was a great example of how Soundkeeper’s Pollution Hotline serves up real results and how one concerned citizen voicing her concern for Puget Sound can lead to real solutions.  Great work Tyee Beach residents!

Staff Spotlight

Soundkeeper proudly welcome Nick White to the role of Pollution Prevention Coordinator, where he will lead Soundkeeper’s Clean Marina, Clean Boating, Marine Debris Cleanup and Watershed Education projects.

Nick was raised in a coastal town near Boston, Massachusetts.  He spent his childhood years sailing the waters of New England and diving its depths in search of lobster and fish.  These early experiences instilled a deep appreciation of the immensity and importance of the marine environment.

Nick graduated from The Colorado College with dual degrees in history and political science.  Nick returned to the sea after college, sailing professionally aboard traditional tall ships and educating others on the importance of maritime stewardship.  He later worked for an international management consulting firm in Europe and Turkey, before settling in Seattle in the mid-nineties.  He’s worked in the construction and real-estate development industry for many years, but his passion for the water has never waned.  A firm believer in experiential education, Nick has taught sailing in the region for more than 15 years.  He is also a certified instructor for boat licenses in the state of Washington.  His concern for the health of global, regional and local waters led him to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance in 2010 where he began as a volunteer.

The Docket

by Katelyn Kinn, Pollution Prevention and Legal Affairs

Soundkeeper’s legal enforcement strategies result in better stormwater treatment at the source and less toxic pollution entering Puget Sound.

Federal Clean Water Act Enforcement:  Soundkeeper continues to enforce clean water laws through citizen lawsuits against facilities in violation of their NPDES (pollution discharge) permits.  Violators in 2010 included fifteen industrial, boatyard and construction facilities that failed to conduct required stormwater sampling, submit required monitoring reports to Department of Ecology (Ecology), or discharged levels of heavy metals and other pollutants into Puget Sound and tributary waters at levels much higher than their permit allowed.  2010 saw the settlement of fourteen cases resulting in permit compliance and pollution prevention through improved best management practices, the installation of stormwater treatment technologies and support of ten local mitigation projects to protect and restore waterways put at risk by pollution. One industrial stormwater case remains open.  Soundkeeper does not accept any settlement monies for this work.  Soundkeeper was represented by Richard Smith, Brian Knutsen or Bridget Baker-White of Smith and Lowney, PLLC.

Stormwater General Permit Appeals:  Ecology regulates stormwater pollution through a number of Stormwater General Permits issued to wide categories of pollution-generating facilities or entities.  These permits are subject to Clean Water Act compliance and public oversight through the public comment and appeals process.  Except as noted below, Soundkeeper was represented by Richard Smith, of Smith and Lowney, PLLC.

Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) Appeal Hearing:  Soundkeeper filed an appeal of the ISGP, which regulates runoff from approximately 1200 industrial sites in November 2009.  This appeal saw extensive prehearing arguments and testimony in 2010.  In January 2011, the appeal went to hearing before the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB).  Soundkeeper and co-appellants Columbia Riverkeeper and Olympians for Public Accountability pushed for numeric water quality-based effluent limits for impaired waterways; a more involved and formal anti-degradation process; and a clearer and enforceable adaptive management scheme.  Other parties to the appeal included The Boeing Company, Copper Development Association, Gunderson Rail Services, Department of Ecology, Weyerhaeuser, Port of Olympia, and Arthur West (who did not appear at the hearing).  Stay tuned for the PCHB’s ruling, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSGP) Appeal Update:  In 2010, Ecology issued a draft CSGP, which regulates stormwater discharges from over 2000 construction sites with over one-acre of disturbed land.  Soundkeeper filed comments on the draft permit in August and an appeal in December, which is active in 2011.

Boatyard General Permit (BGP) Update:  In May 2010, Soundkeeper filed extensive comments on the draft BGP which regulates discharges from eighty-eight boatyards in Washington.  The draft permit ignored previous agreements and a PCHB ruling from 2007. Among other concerns, the draft permit proposed a benchmark for copper that was ten times higher than the ISGP and incorporated an illegal mixing zone, while failing to adequately protect water quality and consider the effect on salmonids as previously stipulated by the PCHB.  On March 2, 2011, a final permit was issued which failed to correct many of these issues.  The final permit is currently under review by Soundkeeper’s Legal Committee. 

Sand and Gravel Stormwater General Permit Update:  In August 2010, Soundkeeper filed an appeal of the Sand and Gravel General Permit, which regulates the discharge of stormwater and process water and mine dewatering water from over 900 sand and gravel operations, rock quarries and similar mining operations, including stockpiles of mined materials.  Soundkeeper is currently in settlement discussions with Ecology and industry representatives.

Municipal Stormwater General Permit Updates:  Soundkeeper continues to participate in stakeholder processes for both the Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater General Permits, which regulate stormwater discharges from over ninety municipalities in Western Washington.  Ecology has yet to fully implement Soundkeeper’s 2008 and 2009 victories before the PCHB on these permits although has signaled its intent to do so with the next permitting cycle in 2012. Release of draft Phase I and II permits is expected in 2011.  Soundkeeper was represented by Jan Hasselman of Earthjustice in its 2008 and 2009 victories.

Clean Marina Update

by Katelyn Kinn, Pollution Prevention and Legal Affairs

Fifty-six certified marinas and counting!  Under Soundkeeper's leadership, Clean Marina Washington continues to expand its efforts to assist Washington's marinas in preventing pollution, managing waste and gaining certification under the statewide program.  Most Recently, Clean Marina Washington welcomed Port of Ilwaco (pictured on right) as the first certified marina on the Washington Coast.  Soundkeeper congratulates the achievements of the four latest certifications:  Port Orchard Marine Railway Marina, Tacoma Yacht Club, Sagstad Marina and Port of Ilwaco.

Re-use Your Shopping Bags and Help Puget Sound!

Soundkeeper is currently the beneficiary of two bag refund programs in Seattle - Whole Foods Interbay and Buffalo Exchange on Market Street in Ballard.  Please support our mission by shopping at these great stores, and be sure to mention at the register that you want your refund donated to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.  The refund programs expire in April and June, Respectively.