Elwha Watershed Information Resource

Restoring the Elwha River watershed is not just about restoring the river, plants, fish, and wildlife after the dams are removed. Another important component is land restoration. When the dams are removed, some areas will be flooded. To restore those resources, other land may be required for community development.

One option for land restoration is to use redeveloped brownfields properties. A brownfield is a property that is (or potentially is) contaminated with hazardous substances or pollutants and therefore is an area that is hard to develop or reuse (EPA 2007). With the help of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant program, brownfields can be restored and reused. In addition to solving the land use issues, cleaning up contaminated or potentially contaminated land in the Elwha watershed will enhance the restoration efforts in the rest of the ecosystem.

EPA Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program

In 1995, the EPA Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program was established to help redevelop contaminated land. As part of the program, brownfield grants are awarded to groups to help with the restoration process. Once redeveloped, these areas facilitate job growth, increase tax revenue, and improve the environment (EPA 2007). In the U.S., it is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfield areas.

Lower Elwha Klallam Brownfields Program

Manke log yard brownfield cleanup site. Matt Beirne, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

In 2002, the Lower Elwha Kallam Tribe (LEKT) received an EPA grant to develop a Brownfields program (Beirne 2007). The program allows LEKT to identify tribal and non-tribal lands of interest that qualify for Brownfields cleanup.

The tribe’s program includes the following steps:

• Survey and inventory brownfield sites on tribal and non-tribal lands.
• State and tribal oversight and enforcement authorities that protect human health and the environment.
• Include public participation in the project (allowing public access to documents, providing opportunity of comment on proposed cleanup plans, and so forth.)
• Develop a Tribal Response Plan that includes an approved cleanup plan and verification and certification that the cleanup is complete.
• Maintain (and make available to the public) a record of sites addressed by the state cleanup program and sites that are proposed to be addressed in the future.

A major component of the Tribal Response Plan is public participation in the identification of potential brownfield sites, review of ongoing cleanup projects, and redevelopment planning.

Elwha Brownfields Cleanup Sites

LEKT has been involved in several large- and small-scale brownfield cleanup projects, including the ITT Rayonier former pulp mill site, Manke log yard site, and American Tower site (Beirne 2007). A description of each site and the cleanup activities are listed below.

ITT Rayonier Former Pulp Mill Site

ITT Rayonier former pulp mill site. Matt Beirne, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

This former pulp mill site is located on 80 acres of land at the northern section of Ennis Creek. It is bordered by the city of Port Angeles, and was proposed as a Superfund site but was turned over to the state of Washington under the Model Toxic Cleanup Act (MTCA). Oversight was given to the LEKT because of the presence of cultural resources and the potential impacts to tribal fisheries resources. LEKT is currently (2007) working with the Washington Department of Ecology on site cleanup.

Manke Log Yard Site

This former log yard site is a 40-acre parcel that was purchased by LEKT in 2002 as the intended future site of a Wellness Center complex. This site was contaminated with hydrocarbons (diesel fuel and motor oil). After a two year cleanup, an expansion of the Lower Elwha Health Clinic was constructed on this site in 2005.

American Tower Site

American Tower brownfield cleanup site. Matt Beirne, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

This 87-acre property was purchased by LEKT in 2002 to provide low income housing for the tribe in the future. American Tower left communication equipment on the property that needs to removed, including communication racks, battery banks, a diesel generator and fuel tank, and lighting fixtures (ballasts) with possible polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In January 2006, the communication racks were dismantled, and afterwards 27 tons of scrap metal and wire were removed. In May, 2006 a garbage pit onsite was excavated, hazardous items were disposed of, and soils were tested for contaminants. Soil contaminate results indicated no threat to human health of the environment. Furture steps include construction of low income housing.

Reference

Beirne, M. 2007. LEKT Response and Brownfield Cleanup program Summary. Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

Environmental Protection Agency. 2007. Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program.