Program -- History of local sediment cleanup, pre-1990

1983-1989 – Three embayments in Puget Sound with sediment contamination were designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as federal Superfund sites: Commencement Bay, Eagle Harbor and Harbor Island in Seattle (external link). The first sediment cleanup action in Commencement Bay was the Simpson project and was completed in 1989. Cleanup is still continuing at other sites. Eagle Harbor and Harbor Island are in the process of being cleaned up.

1984 – Metro (now King County) completed a five year study (Toxicant Pretreatment Planning Study) of toxic pollutants in its wastewater system and the regional aquatic environment. This study concluded that a toxicant problem existed in the urban bay areas of Elliott Bay and the Duwamish Waterway due to significantly elevated levels of metal and organic priority pollutants in sediments. This work set the stage for subsequent planning activities in Elliott Bay and the Duwamish Waterway by recommending that U.S. EPA and Ecology develop an action plan to address the toxicant problem with sediments in urban bays.

1985 – The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority was established by the Washington State Legislature to develop and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive management plan for Puget Sound.

1986 – Initial Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan was adopted by the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority. The plan included the goal of reducing and eliminating adverse environmental effects of contaminated sediments. The plan also required Ecology to develop statewide sediment quality standards and to develop and maintain an inventory of contaminated sediments in Puget Sound that do not meet the sediment quality standards.

1988 – Puget Sound becomes a part of the National Estuary Program (external link) as U.S. EPA designated Puget Sound an estuary of national significance. The Puget Sound Estuary Program (external link) was established to implement the National Estuary Program and address several water quality issues including the management of contaminated sediments. One of the activities of the Puget Sound Estuary Program is the Urban Bay Action Program, which is conducted jointly by U.S. EPA, Ecology and other state and local agencies. The Urban Bay Action Program manages data compilation, identification of problem areas, development of source control programs, and implementation of sediment cleanup activities in Puget Sound .

1988-1989 – The Puget Sound Dredged Disposal Analysis (PSDDA) was designed to develop environmentally safe and publicly acceptable options for the unconfined, open-water disposal of dredged materials. Open-water disposal sites for clean dredged material were established by rule. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (COE) is the lead agency managing the sediment evaluation and approval process for dredgers wishing to use the sites.

1989 – Model Toxics Control Act passed, by voter initiative.