Source: Chronic releases of hazardous substances following the
industrialization of the waterway in the early 1970's to the 1980's.
Release: PCBs, phthalates, PAHs, metals, pesticides, and dioxins/furans.
Primary Injury:
Resources at risk in the Lower Duwamish River include the benthic community,
flatfish, and salmon, particularly Chinook salmon and steelhead, which are
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Contaminants of concern
include PCBs, phthalates, PAHs, metals, pesticides, and dioxins/furans.
Clean-up of the highly industrial Lower Duwamish River is being addressed
through EPA led (Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) and
state led programs.
Remedial Assessment
The Elliott Bay/Duwamish River environment has been a part of several U.S. EPA
Superfund and other hazardous waste programs, including Harbor Island and
Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor. For additional information, contact EPA at 1-800-424-4EPA
or at EPA's Region 10 web site
Injury Assessment
This webpage is related to an existing settlement. However, injury assessment is
underway at other project sites in the Duwamish River that are not covered by
this existing settlement. For more information about the NRDA activities in the
Lower Duwamish, see Lower Duwamish
website.
