The Bellingham Bay Foundation and Cleanup
For the latest on the Whatcom Waterway cleanup, go to our news section here.
The Bellingham Bay Foundation and Cleanup
The Bellingham Bay Foundation intends to remain indefatigable in its efforts to garner the highest level of cleanup possible for Bellingham’s waterfront and Bellingham Bay. This mission is key to ensuring a safe and healthy (financial and otherwise) future for current and future generations of residents.
We’re going to be a part of a "summit" of stakeholders left out of the development of the Whatcom Waterway RI/FS. It's apparent that other alternatives than those presented in the Port's RI/FS need to be considered for the benefit of habitat and the public. The Foundation is not, at this point, convinced that the best or most "preferable" plan is currently on the table. The Ecology-approved plan is simply not protective enough.
The BBF’s Cleanup Plans for the Whatcom Waterway
The Foundation is delving into the evaluative criteria and the assumptions behind the different alternatives in the Whatcom Waterway RI/FS. We are seeking answers to questions about the degree and level of "natural recovery", the benefits of dredging versus capping, the resuspension of contaminates during different types of dredging, and the economic benefits of long-term monitoring versus thorough removal. The Log Pond, which is highlighted in the RI/FS as a success, is an area of concern because of erosion, a steady increase in mercury levels, and a hotspot (from a bore sample) of 153 part per million (ppm). The site-specific allowable level of contamination in the Whatcom Waterway, including the Log Pond, is only 1.2 ppm. There appears to be a problem here with priorities.
Please check back soon to learn more about our detailed response to the Port’s cleanup plans, as well as a full explanation of the Foundation’s Whatcom Waterway cleanup resolution and principles. You can track our analysis of this RI/FS and EIS here.
Please be sure to come to the Public Hearing for Whatcom Waterway cleanup on November 28th at the Bellingham Municipal Courthouse. This hearing is critical. Check out Events for further details.
The Foundation signs Statement of Principles
The BBF has joined forces with leading environmental and medical groups to help ensure that the maximum amount of mercury is removed from Bellingham Bay and Bellingham’s waterfront. Check back soon to learn more.
For the latest on the Whatcom Waterway cleanup, go to our news section here.
The Bellingham Bay Foundation and Cleanup
The Bellingham Bay Foundation intends to remain indefatigable in its efforts to garner the highest level of cleanup possible for Bellingham’s waterfront and Bellingham Bay. This mission is key to ensuring a safe and healthy (financial and otherwise) future for current and future generations of residents.
We’re going to be a part of a "summit" of stakeholders left out of the development of the Whatcom Waterway RI/FS. It's apparent that other alternatives than those presented in the Port's RI/FS need to be considered for the benefit of habitat and the public. The Foundation is not, at this point, convinced that the best or most "preferable" plan is currently on the table. The Ecology-approved plan is simply not protective enough.
The BBF’s Cleanup Plans for the Whatcom Waterway
The Foundation is delving into the evaluative criteria and the assumptions behind the different alternatives in the Whatcom Waterway RI/FS. We are seeking answers to questions about the degree and level of "natural recovery", the benefits of dredging versus capping, the resuspension of contaminates during different types of dredging, and the economic benefits of long-term monitoring versus thorough removal. The Log Pond, which is highlighted in the RI/FS as a success, is an area of concern because of erosion, a steady increase in mercury levels, and a hotspot (from a bore sample) of 153 part per million (ppm). The site-specific allowable level of contamination in the Whatcom Waterway, including the Log Pond, is only 1.2 ppm. There appears to be a problem here with priorities.
Please check back soon to learn more about our detailed response to the Port’s cleanup plans, as well as a full explanation of the Foundation’s Whatcom Waterway cleanup resolution and principles. You can track our analysis of this RI/FS and EIS here.
Please be sure to come to the Public Hearing for Whatcom Waterway cleanup on November 28th at the Bellingham Municipal Courthouse. This hearing is critical. Check out Events for further details.
The Foundation signs Statement of Principles
The BBF has joined forces with leading environmental and medical groups to help ensure that the maximum amount of mercury is removed from Bellingham Bay and Bellingham’s waterfront. Check back soon to learn more.
The Healthy Bay Initiative
In 2006, the BBF launched a political action committee for the purposes of putting a citizen’s initiative on the November ballot. We gathered over 6,400 signatures (far more than were necessary to qualify), generated tremendous support from citizens, and we were on target to be "Initiative 1." But the City of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham sued People for a Healthy Bay and stopped the Initiative from going on the ballot on narrow technical grounds (legislative vs. administrative). We find it profoundly ironic that both the Model Toxics Control Act and the Growth Management Act started out as citizen initiatives. The difference? Governments in question did not respond with anger. They welcomed the input and hopes of their citizens. They responded by strengthening these initiatives, making them more legislative in nature, and assuring their success. And these governments did not sue citizens to take away their right to vote.
Please visit www.ahealthybay.org to learn about this BBF effort. The People for a Healthy Bay will remain a political action committee.
We are determined to honor the hopes of the citizens of this region who supported the Healthy Bay Initiative. The Foundation will pickup where the People for a Healthy Bay left off and move forward with renewed determination and a renewed sense of hope.
In 2006, the BBF launched a political action committee for the purposes of putting a citizen’s initiative on the November ballot. We gathered over 6,400 signatures (far more than were necessary to qualify), generated tremendous support from citizens, and we were on target to be "Initiative 1." But the City of Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham sued People for a Healthy Bay and stopped the Initiative from going on the ballot on narrow technical grounds (legislative vs. administrative). We find it profoundly ironic that both the Model Toxics Control Act and the Growth Management Act started out as citizen initiatives. The difference? Governments in question did not respond with anger. They welcomed the input and hopes of their citizens. They responded by strengthening these initiatives, making them more legislative in nature, and assuring their success. And these governments did not sue citizens to take away their right to vote.
Please visit www.ahealthybay.org to learn about this BBF effort. The People for a Healthy Bay will remain a political action committee.
We are determined to honor the hopes of the citizens of this region who supported the Healthy Bay Initiative. The Foundation will pickup where the People for a Healthy Bay left off and move forward with renewed determination and a renewed sense of hope.