Forum Index > Public Lands Stewardship > Rubber debris litters miles of Puyallup River after artificial turf was used in dam project without
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altasnob
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PostSat Aug 29, 2020 8:28 am 
The spill occurred July 29. Rubber debris already is likely more than 40 miles downriver in Puget Sound. The pollution is the result of unpermitted use of thousands of yards of artificial turf by the dam’s owners while reconstructing parts of the dam. Electron Hydro, did not inform regulators of the pollution discharge until Aug. 4. A stop-work order was imposed on the company’s construction project Aug. 7 by Pierce County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Puget Sound Energy, the previous owner of the dam, sold the dam to Electron in 2014, but still sells electricity from the project. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/rubber-debris-litters-miles-of-puyallup-river-after-artificial-turf-was-used-in-dam-project-without-permit/

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Ski
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PostSat Aug 29, 2020 10:29 am 
Sounds like a real mess. I would think it would be impossible to clean up all those tiny little pieces of rubber. I honestly had to laugh when I read this, because the dam owner’s use of the “astro turf” is so monumentally stupid. This fiasco on the Puyallup is unforgiveable idiocy. I’d think federal charges for violations of the Clean Water Act would be appropriate (at the minimum.) Hopefully the Puyallup Tribe’s legal team will manage to sue the pants off the chuckleheads who allowed this to happen. I would expect that DOE would be all over this. Where have they been?

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Malachai Constant
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PostSat Aug 29, 2020 3:28 pm 
Strange Astro turf does not have the rubber granules when new that are added afterward to reduce injuries. Most places no longer use them because they are considered cancerous. Probably they were used used AstroTurf from a field somewhere to save money.

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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thunderhead
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PostMon Aug 31, 2020 4:27 pm 
They installed the shredded tire astroturf outdoors? Ahahaha daft.

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altasnob
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PostMon Sep 14, 2020 7:57 pm 
Pierce County is taking steps to remove the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River following a spew of crumb rubber and plastic debris into the river by the dam’s owners, Electron Hydro. Citing “inexcusable environmental harm” and “irresponsible management” by dam owner Electron Hydro, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier Monday issued a letter imposing a series of steps the owners must take to clean up the mess and secure the dam site for the winter. Working with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Dammeier said his ultimate goal is to remove the 12-foot-tall wooden dam from the Puyallup River “as soon as possible.” “The harm caused by this obsolete, 116-year-old dam in a river that supports threatened salmon runs far exceeds any possible benefit the owners might claim,” Dammeier said in the statement. “Electron Hydro deliberately placed artificial turf full of crumb rubber into the river, and that’s simply unacceptable. The damage to future salmon runs is impossible to measure.” The dam is located in the upper Puyallup watershed and generates power for about 20,000 electricity customers. The dam is a known fish killer on a river that is home to spring chinook, and other fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. Puget Sound Energy also recently alerted Electron Hydro it would cancel its power-purchase contract with Election Hydro if it does not bring the dam into regulatory compliance. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/electron-dam-should-come-down-as-soon-as-possible-pierce-county-executive-says/

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altasnob
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PostSat Oct 03, 2020 9:21 am 
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians intends to sue Electron Hydro after the dam released artificial turf pellets into the Puyallup River while working on a project. https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article246185230.html

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flatsqwerl
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PostWed Oct 21, 2020 8:24 am 
Next time I kayak up the Puyallup I am going to see if I am able to find any of this stuff.

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altasnob
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PostThu Dec 10, 2020 5:10 pm 
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Brian R
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 9:30 am 
Meanwhile, Seattle just spilled a few more tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage into our Puget Sound--again--and not a peep from emerald city green orgs. Or anyone here. https://komonews.com/news/local/millions-of-gallons-of-raw-sewage-spill-into-puget-sound-during-storm

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moonspots
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 11:37 am 
Brian R wrote:
Meanwhile, Seattle just spilled a few more tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage into our Puget Sound--again--and not a peep from emerald city green orgs. Or anyone here. https://komonews.com/news/local/millions-of-gallons-of-raw-sewage-spill-into-puget-sound-during-storm
"The King County’s wastewater treatment division blamed both releases on power outages." They can't afford emergency power generators? dizzy.gif

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Schroder
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 2:38 pm 
Brian R wrote:
Meanwhile, Seattle just spilled a few more tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage into our Puget Sound--again--and not a peep from emerald city green orgs. Or anyone here.
You actually think they're comparable?

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Randito
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 3:19 pm 
Brian R wrote:
Meanwhile, Seattle just spilled a few more tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage into our Puget Sound--again--and not a peep from emerald city green orgs. Or anyone here. https://komonews.com/news/local/millions-of-gallons-of-raw-sewage-spill-into-puget-sound-during-storm
I find it hilarious that Brian R is claiming "not a peep" on an issue by sharing item from a mainstream media outlet. The report contains the text:
Quote:
The West Point Treatment Plant has been the site of multiple wastewater discharges in recent years, leading the Suquamish Tribe to threaten a lawsuit against King County for repeated violations of clean water laws.

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Ski
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 6:34 pm 
KOMO news wrote:
"...heavy rainfall overwhelmed the capacity..."
The capacity of some of our wastewater treatment plants in the Puget Sound basin has been overwhelmed not only by heavy rainfall events, but also the increase in population - there are more toilets being flushed. This sort of thing was a regular occurrence at the old Tatsolo treatment plant near DuPont, which dumps into Puget Sound just north of the Nisqually River. During one event (decades ago, prior to the development of the "Northwest Landing" subdivision, raw sewage was spewing out of the two four-foot-diameter overflow pipes four feet high. (Photography for the event was provided at a public hearing by the late Johnny Mount, for whom Mounts Road is named.) It washed out the bedding under the BNSF rail line downslope and shut down the rail line for several days until repairs could be effected. The root cause of these problems is not the failure of local managers, but rather the failure of the federal government to comprehensively address and adequately fund our antiquated and failing infrastructure - sewage treatment plants being but one of many, many things which need to be updated and repaired. The money is there - we just need to get our priorities straight and stop pissing away tax dollars playing policeman for the world. The labor to get the job done is there - there are millions of guys out there who need jobs.

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Brian R
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 8:25 pm 
Randy, not sure why the hostility--or even your point. Hooray for the tribes--but why won't the people of Seattle practice what they preach? Or just do it because it's the right thing to do? The answer: because "it's too expensive" and would require the separation of its antiquated sewer and storm drain systems. And it's easier to litigate (and moralize) against others than self, e.g. the owner of the Electron Dam. The CWA doesn't see cost as a mitigating factor, so the tribes will likely prevail. Like they did with Sanchez and the culverts case. Get ready to pay up. It's gotta be done.

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Brian R
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PostSun Jan 17, 2021 8:27 pm 
Ski wrote:
KOMO news wrote:
"...heavy rainfall overwhelmed the capacity..."
The capacity of some of our wastewater treatment plants in the Puget Sound basin has been overwhelmed not only by heavy rainfall events, but also the increase in population - there are more toilets being flushed. This sort of thing was a regular occurrence at the old Tatsolo treatment plant near DuPont, which dumps into Puget Sound just north of the Nisqually River. During one event (decades ago, prior to the development of the "Northwest Landing" subdivision, raw sewage was spewing out of the two four-foot-diameter overflow pipes four feet high. (Photography for the event was provided at a public hearing by the late Johnny Mount, for whom Mounts Road is named.) It washed out the bedding under the BNSF rail line downslope and shut down the rail line for several days until repairs could be effected. The root cause of these problems is not the failure of local managers, but rather the failure of the federal government to comprehensively address and adequately fund our antiquated and failing infrastructure - sewage treatment plants being but one of many, many things which need to be updated and repaired. The money is there - we just need to get our priorities straight and stop pissing away tax dollars playing policeman for the world. The labor to get the job done is there - there are millions of guys out there who need jobs.
Without exception, all Puget Sound area systems have now been separated. Except Seattle's. One of the wealthiest cities on the planet, BTW.

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