Full document / COSOC-W-86-002 - the National Sea Grant Library

Estuarineand Coastal Management- Tools ofthe
Trade. Proceedings of die TenthNationalConference
of The Coastal Society. October 12-15,1986. New
Orleans. LA. Copyright by The Coastal Society
1987.
Executive Summary
PUGET SOUND ESTUARY PROGRAM
TOXICS CONTROL STRATEGY
URBAN BAY APPROACH
Martha L. Burke
Office of PagetSound
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Sixth Avenue
Mail Stop 433
Seattle. WA 98101
The urban bay approach Is proving to be effective In solving chemical
contamination problems 1n Puget Sound. It is action-oriented. It uses
existing data to Identify problem areas and begins to control sources
contributing toxics early on. Control actions include inspections,
Issuing and revising permits and orders, enforcement actions, and
Installation of best management practices. It has a geographic,
problem-oriented focus. Work plans are developed for urban bays where
sources of toxic contamination are concentrated, and the critical problem
areas within these bays are addressed first. All program authorities,
including water quality, RCRA and Superfund, are used as needed to
effectively control sources. The success of this urban bay approach,
however, requires a commitment to action on the part of the state. Its
focus on sediment contamination, toxics control In permits, and toxics
controls for stormwater runoff puts it in the forefront of the
application of emerging state and EPA policy.
Problem Identification
Urban bays are the most highly industrialized areas of Puget Sound, and
discharge and dumping of waste materials, including metals and organic
compounds, have affected the chemical quality of waters and sediments in
many portions of these bays.
Scientists from NOAA's Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center in Seattle
have documented a high prevalence of liver and kidney lesions in
bottomflsh such as sole in urban bays. The nearshore and tldeflats area
of Commencement Bay, which serves Tacoma, a large Industrial city
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