Seattle City Light has proposed plans for environmental remediation at the potential temporary homeless encampment site in Ballard (located at 2826 NW) after finding it being contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides.

The notification was posted on July 6 and explains that 18 inches of soil will be removed from the property in order to remove the contaminants. The post was stuck to a healthy Korean Ashe, located on the site. The tree will be removed along with other material because it will not survive the remediation and the roots of the tree are considered contaminated. It will be cut down after a 10-day comment period.

According to Scott Thomsen, Senior Strategic Advisor in Communications with Seattle City Light, testing the site is part of the City’s process in identifying encampment sites.

“As a part of this process, we tested the property to check for possible environmental contamination from our previous uses. Testing identified pesticides and heavy metals, which we have a responsibility to clean up,” said Thomsen

City Light will plant two new trees on the site in accordance with the tree replacement program.

Seattle City Light found a pesticide, dieldrin, on the site, which was commonly used in the 50s and 60s, but is now banned in the US. They also found some heavy metals, including cadmium and lead, and asbestos was found in the concrete pad on the site. Thomsen reported that the lead and cadmium are above the model toxics control act standards for cleanup, and the dieldrin level is significantly higher than the state standard for cleanup.

Thomsen said that testing a site for contaminants is common practice when use for a previously active utility operation is proposed. The cost of testing and soil cleanup is estimated at $145,500. Removing the tree will have no cost since it will be done by SCL staff.

Thomsen also reported that the other two city sites proposed for encampments -- one in Interbay and one in South Seattle’s Industrial District -- will not be tested because they did not have the same use as the Ballard site

Ballard resident, Keith Salas, is appalled that the site would be included for consideration for an encampment and is concerned that the remediation is a health risk for residents.

“I believe this raises a legitimate public health and environmental justice issue. The city should not be considering housing homeless individuals in a campsite on soil with enough toxins to require remediation,” said Salas.

The site is one of three temporary homeless encampments the Mayor identified last week. The move was part of Mayor Murray’s legislation proposed earlier this year to establish encampments in the city. Back in March the city council asked Murray to identify the three sites.

The criteria for the sites include they are close to transit and social services, linked to social services and large enough to house 100 people.

The City Council reviewed the proposal and signed off on it yesterday. Eight of nine council members signed the letter, including Councilmember Mike O’Brien of District 6.

“Each of these sites appears to meet the locational criteria outlined in the ordinance including being proximate to transit. All of the proposed sites appear to be viable and we support further exploration of all of them,” the council wrote in a letter yesterday.

So what about the contamination?

“Once that work is finished (environmental remediation), the property will meet all appropriate standards for the planned use or other development,” wrote Thomsen.

Now the city plans for community outreach meetings for public feedback and recommendations for the sites.

News of the contaminated site comes after the Mayor’s announcement last week and a backlash from Ballard citizens about the site location. Many citizens revealed on public forums and a sign located at the site that they were upset for not being included in deciding the site location. Also, many of them -- including neighboring business owners -- espouse having the site on the main street of Ballard would be a detriment to their businesses.

Seattle City Light notification of contamination and the removal of this tree. Photo by Keith Salas.

After the Mayor’s announcement the Ballard Chamber responded with a letter to him. Lack of inclusion in the deciding the site location was a main grievance they voiced.

“Putting aside the enormous challenge this poses for our Ballard community, most troubling is the fact that none of our leaders or constituents were consulted in your selection process. In fact, we had no knowledge that the site selection process was underway. A phone call alerting us to the initiative two hours before your press release was issued is unacceptable,” the Chamber wrote.

They also noted that for the past 18 months the chamber, business owners and stakeholders have engaged with the city to create a comprehensive Design Framework plan.

“Given this history of collaboration, it is difficult to understand why neither your office nor DPD (Department of Planning and Development) reached out to seek our input and consultation. Had we known about the site review process, we could have helped organize the community, reviewed potential locations and convened proactive conversations with businesses and residents alike. And we could have helped garner support.”

In addition, the chamber listed these reasons for why the site at 2826 NW Market Street is “inappropriate” for an encampment:

“Market Street serves as a gateway to and from historic downtown Ballard and the Chittenden Locks and Golden Gardens. This route is very busy for local residents, Seattle visitors and tourists who travel through this gateway corridor by car, bicycle and foot… Ballard already accommodates more than its fair share of the city’s homeless population, including hundreds of vehicle residents. Establishing this encampment even temporarily will only expand the problem we already face.”

Mike Stewart, Executive Director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, reported on July 3 that the Mayor has responded to their letter and ensured there will be a public meeting in the near future.

However, not everyone is against the proposed site location. Emily Thousand, a volunteer with the Ballard Taskforce on Homelessness and Hunger wrote on the BNT site that she has worked with the homeless population for the last four years, and she supports the City’s actions -- though she feels they could do more.

“Many people who are complaining have never actually spoken to a homeless person, let alone stop down and really get to know them and try to help them navigate the social services system, which is extremely complicated! … There is a misconception that all homeless people are on drugs -- and while they may be struggling with addiction, the only way to solve that is to actually get them in treatment and fix the problem. … I'm proud Seattle is doing something to help this -- this is a small start -- it is not the ultimate solution…”