A Spectacular Procession of the Species

A Spectacular Procession of the Species

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Artswalk weekend in Olympia culminated with the spectacular, 18th annual Procession of the Species. The mission of the Procession of the Species is to empower communities to engage in cultural relationships with the natural world as a means of sustaining efforts of environmental protection and restoration. For more information, go to www.procession.org.

As is often the case, the weather held out and a good time was had by thousands people in downtown Olympia!

Thank you Procession director Eli Sterling and Earthbound Productions for all you do for the community!

Scott Yoos Trial Scheduled For August 13

Above: Scott Yoos, center, stands outside the Thurston County courthouse on Wednesday with supporters, prior to his pre-trial hearing.

Scott Yoos Trial Scheduled For August 13

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The Thurston County Superior Court trial date for Scott Yoos, an Olympia citizen accused of a felony assault against a police officer, has been scheduled for August 13.

Attorney Larry Hildes represented Yoos at the hearing held on Wednesday, April 18. Hildes took the Yoos case in February, and told Judge Carol Murphy that he needed more time to review his client’s information. Citing his existing workload and a recent vacation, Hildes said he had been unrealistic about the file he inherited from Yoos’ previous attorney and needed more time to gather information for the case. The judge issued an order of continuance.

Hildes submitted to the court a lengthy list of discovery requests, which includes disclosure of all police reports and logs related to the arrest, a map of the patrol area for the officer initially responding to the incident, and copies of all training materials for the police department on how to deal with deaf, hearing impaired and mute individuals, and disabilities of any kind.

Yoos, who pronounces his last name like “Yose” as in ‘Yosemite’ (National Park), is mute and typically uses a white board and marker or a pen and paper to communicate with other individuals. He can hear, and also uses sign language.

Before the hearing began, Yoos wrote a message to this reporter, saying, “…I’m hopeful and grateful that Larry and Karen (his wife) drove clear down from Bellingham.” About the new trial date, Yoos wrote, “We’re doing it several months in the future so that we have ample time to present motions.”

During the hearing's time frame in which several other cases were heard before Yoos’ case, prisoners in bright orange jumpsuits, tightly shackled with handcuffs around the hands and chains around their waists and feet, shuffled forward to the podium with their attorneys and were greeted and questioned by the judge about their cases. One prisoner wore a grey t-shirt that read, “Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Work Crew Inmate.”

Yoos, who is free and wore regular clothes, communicated with his attorney using a white board and blue marker and frequently used a rag stuffed in his left side pocket to erase his messages.

The Case Against Yoos

According to police records, Yoos was initially cited for criminal trespass and obstructing justice on June 1, 2011 at 2302 Fourth Avenue, Olympia, at 2341 hours. The property is the site of Twister Donuts.

The case originally was to be heard in the municipal court of the city of Olympia.

In his police report, Officer Randy Wilson writes that he saw Yoos enter the parking lot and go towards the Dumpsters and a fence by Curtis lumberyard.

“By the time I entered the lot, Yoos was behind the dumpster. Yoos tried to leave and I physically had to stop him. I learned he used sign language, so I assumed he was deaf. I began to communicate via notepad. I wrote down he was being investigated for criminal trespass. Yoos got agitated and refused to ID himself. While writing with him, he tried to leave on his bicycle at least 3 times. We tried to get him off his bicycle and he resisted. He was taken down to the ground and handcuffed. I later learned from Officer Watkins that on 8/10 Yoos had been trespassed from the property by Officer Hincichs. See C&I.”

Copies of Officer Wilson’s and Yoos’ handwritten questions and answers to each other include: Wilson's - “Do you have ID?" and "Write your name and birthday down” and Yoos' - “What have I done wrong?” and “I threw away a bag, is that illegal? You’d rather I littered?”

According to the police report, Yoos is 5’9 and weighs 155 pounds. Police reports detail the incident and actions by the four Olympia police officers who responded to the scene, Officers S. Costello, Jason Watkins, and Randy Wilson and Sgt. Paul Johnson.

Officer Costello’s report indicates that Yoos was “using sign language in a way that looked like he may hit one of us. He was slapping his hands and motioning wildly at us. I summoned Officer J. Watkins via police radio because I know he can communicate using American Sign Language.”

Officer Costello’s report goes on to explain that use of force was used to take away Yoos’ bicycle and take Yoos to the ground: “I laid the bicycle down and noted that Officer Wilson was trying to take Yoos to the ground. He’d become resistive at that point. As I got clear of the bicycle Officer Wilson was trying to use an arm bar technique to get him to the ground. As he was going to the ground I grabbed his right wrist area. Officer Wilson secured his left arm and I grasped his right wrist. Yoos was rolling on the ground and was still resisting us. I used my right knee on his neck and applied pressure, keeping him on the ground. Officer Wilson was able to secure Yoos in his handcuffs.

Officer Watkins’ report states that he knows American Sign Language, “…but I am only conversational and not certified as an interpreter or anything else.” He describes helping Officer Costello with standing Yoos up and subduing Yoos when he continued to resist the officers.

The Watkins report reads, in part: “While Officer Costello was searching Yoos I maintained downward preassure (sic) with my right arm along the upper portion of Yoos’ torso in order to keep him in the bent position and a position of disadvantage because he had been actively resisting. Yoos tried standing straight up a couple of times but I was able to maintain control of him. Yoos was screaming but not saying anything while he was being searched…."

Watkins later writes, “Yoos was placed into a temporary cell in preparation for booking and I re-contacted him there....I asked Yoos if he could hear and using only sign language he told me he was hard of hearing and in 1984, he suffered a head injury that made it so he was mute. Yoos told me he signed using English sign language rather than American Sign Language which is what I’m familiar with but we were still able to communicate….After I had cleared the Jail I was later called back by Corrections Officer Johnson. When I arrived Yoos had been released and was just outside of the Jail’s parking lot. I was told Yoos needed clarification regarding he had to go to court services tomorrow at 0830 hours, to obtain a court date and that is what I explained to him again using both my voice and sign language.”

Report by Sgt. Paul Johnson

According to a report, City of Olympia Sgt. Paul Johnson is the one who accuses Yoos of kicking him. His report is dated June 27, 2011. The incident occurred on June 1, 2011.

In part, his report reads, “Officer Costello transitioned to a gooseneck counter joint technique and applied pressure. Yoos at this point lunged toward me lifting his foot impacting my left thigh. The impact pushed me back at which point Yoos using the same foot kicked the headlight of a nearby patrol car attempting to break it. I advised the officers I was fine and suggested taking Yoos to the hood of patrol car. Yoos’ upper torso was then forced down onto the hood of the vehicle and was re-secured in handcuffs.” According to the report, Yoos was then transported to the Olympia police department for processing, booked, and released.

As a result of Johnson’s report, Yoos’ case was bumped up to the Superior Court of Washington in Thurston County. In a document dated August 8, 2011, Yoos was charged with three counts: assault in the third degree, a Class C felony; criminal trespass in the second degree, a misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, also a misdemeanor.

Yoos' Supporters Speak Out

On Wednesday, friends and supporters of Yoos met at the courthouse prior to the hearing to express their support for Yoos. About a dozen went into the courtroom with Yoos to witness his pre-trial hearing.

Yoos supporter John Newman said, “Being charged with assault at taxpayer’s expense is unjust. Scott’s been a great local volunteer in the city of Olympia for several nonprofits. I think he was innocent and wanted to go home.”

Aaron Zanthe also expressed support for Yoos. “I’m definitely supporting Scott. I’m a friend and an advocate for people of neurodiversity. He came to a community event I organized. I find his story very moving. I’m well-adjusted to listening to stories of people who face abuse and aren’t capable of defending themselves, and this is reflected in my work. I find it distressing that Scott was assaulted by anyone, especially those entrusted with public safety and that his sign language was interpreted as a sign of aggression.”

After witnessing the hearing, supporter Chris Stegman said, “The whole thing reeks of an unjust system gone awry, a cover up of police misconduct and an overreach of authority and inappropriate detention, the threat of which is what led Scott to try to escape the scene in fear for his safety. How would it feel to the average person to be detained by up to four armed police officers at 11 pm in a dark alley out of public sight, all for throwing some paper napkins in a city of Olympia Dumpster? I'm ready to peacefully riot if this case goes through and he gets convicted of any felony, for resisting arrest, obstruction of officers duties, or whatever. This is a gross miscarriage of justice that it has gone this far without being dismissed.”

An Interview with Scott Yoos

After arranging for an interview time and place through text messaging and email, I sat down with Yoos for an in-person, hour long interview today. I asked him about the police reports, showed him specific passages I had questions about, and asked him for his thoughts.

The process was time intensive, as I do not know sign language. I had to be patient and let Yoos write his answers to my questions, and not interrupt him if I thought I knew what he was going to write. A few times, I did interrupt. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it didn't. Yoos often nodded and laughed if I guessed what he was going to write. When I didn't guess correctly, Yoos seemed to hide what he was writing until he was finished, then showed me his complete thought. He used two full sized pieces of paper and covered both sides, twisting and turning the pages around, covering the white space.

This is what we were able to accomplish:

I looked at Yoos directly and asked him if he was hard of hearing. He wrote, "Never. I've been mute since 1984 due to a severe head injury."

I referred to Office Watkins' report where Watkins wrote, "I asked Yoos if he could hear and using only sign language he told me he was hard of hearing and in 1984, he suffered a head injury that made it so he was mute. Yoos told me he signed using English sign language rather than American Sign Language...."

In response, Yoos wrote, "He misinterpreted my sign - I'm most comfortable with S.E.E., not A.S.L."

Yoos then wrote, "There is really so much to say. I've been stewing in this for nearly a traumatic year."

Yoos pointed out the words Officer Costello used in his report, "He was slapping his hands and motioning wildly at us." In response to this, Yoos wrote, "I really resent their choice of words. Anything to make me sound crazy and violent. I was merely trying to communicate via sign."

Yoos also took issue with Officer Costello's report and the words, "I laid the bicycle down..." In response, Yoos wrote, "He tore my bike from underneath me and threw it to the side."

When I asked Yoos why he and Officer Wilson shared the same notebook, Yoos wrote, "They took my pen."

When I asked Yoos how long it took for Officer Watkins, who knew sign language, to arrive to the scene and if he helped, Yoos wrote, "By the time he arrived to "help" I was handcuffed."

Yoos also wrote, "What happened to me that night was entirely undeserved, and too many half-truths and bald faced lies have been told about my behavior, to allow it to remain unchallenged. This is why we need to push for video surveillance of arrests. There needs to be something to "police" the police! It's a matter of public safety. I believe that video coverage would have entirely vindicated me and would have gotten the O.P.D. (Olympia Police Department) in trouble."

Yoos also wrote, "I'd like to point out/emphasize that I was merely a bicycle commuter headed home. I was wearing a reflective orange vest and had a red blinking light on the rear of my bike. If I'd been doing something criminal, I wouldn't have been dressed to be seen!"

Finally, Yoos wrote, "I'm so grateful for your interest! There are so many people and things which I love about this town. A militarized police force and their stormtrooper mentalities is not one of them!" Yoos also wrote that he has a support group address on Facebook and wanted me to include that information in my article.

A legal defense fund has been set up to cover attorney's fees for Yoos' defense. Donations can be endorsed to "Scott Yoos - LDF" and walked in or mailed directly to: Scott Yoos – Legal Defense Fund, c/o Washington State Employees Credit Union, 2302 Harrison Ave NW, Ste 201, Olympia, Washington 98502. Donations can also be made online at https://donationpay.org/scottyoos/. Supporters say 100% of the amount donated will go to the Scott Yoos Legal Defense Fund.

A Facebook account has been set up at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Yoos-Support-Committee-Legal-Defense-Fund/222716127776108 or you can just type Scott Yoos Legal Defense Fund.

Supporters have organized a fundraiser for Yoos on Sunday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. at Traditions Fair Trade, 300 5th Avenue, in downtown Olympia, for an event with singers, spoken word artists, and musicians. Pie and food will be provided for free.

LOTT Has Come A Long Way - But Has A Long Way To Go

Above: Mosaic artwork outside the LOTT Clean Water Alliance will be open to the public in June. This one says, in part, "The health of our waters is the principle measure...."

LOTT Has Come A Long Way - But Has A Long Way To Go

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Bob Wood, Olympia street superintendent, said Tuesday digested sludge is now available free to the public at the sewage treatment plant located at the north end of Adams Street.

“It makes excellent fertilizer for flower beds,” he noted, adding that a loader will be on hand from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday for the convenience of the public.

“We load, you haul,” Wood said, adding, “and this has no odor to it.”

Yes, the above information is for real, but it isn’t an announcement from this week. While digging around in her attic, this reporter recently found a copy of The Daily Olympian, dated August 28, 1973, that included this little tidbit of news and brought it to a recent LOTT board meeting to show staff. As expected, they got a kick out of it.

“Good heavens! Did we really do that?” exclaimed Karla Fowler, LOTT community relations and environmental policy director.

She and LOTT public facilities manager Ben McConkey chuckled about it, saying that such activities happened before state and federal standards were in place. McConkey added that the sludge – now known as digested biosolids – would have had quite a bit of trash in it, especially little plastic pieces.

“By today’s standards, we were a Class B treatment facility, before the secondary treatment process. Sludge was treated in anaerobic digesters.” Fowler eagerly made a copy of the yellowed newspaper article for her files.

Flash forward to 2012, and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance has come a long way since 1973, but, as evidenced at LOTT’s recent board retreat, it has a long way to go.

LOTT is a regional Class A water and wastewater treatment facility, and regularly receives national wastewater treatment industry awards and recognition. On a local level, the public appears to lack an understanding or trust LOTT’s mission.

LOTT is composed of the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County. Representatives to the board are newly elected chair Cynthia Pratt, Lacey city councilmember, vice president Sandra Romero, Thurston County commissioner, Steve Langer, Olympia city councilmember, and Tom Oliva, Tumwater city councilmember, represent the city and county.

Current positions were chosen at last week’s LOTT meeting. As a new board with varying degrees of knowledge, Pratt is considered the most senior member of the group, with two years experience on the LOTT board.

As a result of recent turnover, LOTT board members and staff are having new conversations on a whole set of industry and organizational development issues as they embark on the development of a new six year long range strategic plan and a four year groundwater recharge study.

LOTT Board Retreat

LOTT held its day-long annual board retreat last month, broadly reviewing its history and examining its future.

The show of politics on public policy quickly became apparent as board members asserted their positions. Polite tension was evident as board members actively peppered LOTT executive director Mike Strub and staff with questions about long-held assumptions, and challenged business-as-usual routines. Board members did not tiptoe around the issues – they poked holes into every staff presentation, questioning the overall board-staff relationship, the legal definition of the organization and LOTT’s use of about 40 specialty consultants.

The agenda, set by LOTT staff, was ambitious. A wide range of issues was discussed and prioritized by board members, and will result in many work sessions throughout the year. Issues ranking highest in priority went to three areas: citizen involvement, the groundwater recharge study, and septic tank conversions.

“It’s like starting a whole new relationship,” said Strub in his opening remarks. “LOTT is a complex organization and people have a hard time understanding what we do – we’re not a high profile organization.” Strub said that LOTT has spent $100 million building capacity and Lacey’s entire future, for example, is based on that capacity.

Strub outlined the board’s relationship to staff and the internal workings of LOTT’s technical subcommittee, reclaimed water task force, and septic workgroup. In mentioning just a sampling of contemporary issues facing LOTT, he set the tone for the serious work ahead for board members, staff, and the community.

“The impaired health of Puget Sound and Budd Inlet, the recommendations offered by the ongoing Deschutes Total Maximum Daily Load advisory committee study, the county’s update of the critical areas ordinance, compounds of emerging concern, and the groundwater recharge study are all issues that are going to change our worldview….We’re at a bellwether moment in LOTT’s history and future. With a population of 100,000 in three cities, we cannot stop, we cannot fail. Failure is not an option – the implications would be an unprecedented disaster,” said Strub.

Public Involvement Issues

It was emphasized by board members that while LOTT, a nonprofit, is not technically a public agency, it should act as a public agency, especially with regard to the public meetings act. Strub told board members that both the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Washington Cities Insurance Agency, almost immediately recognized LOTT as a public agency.

The upcoming groundwater recharge study generated a great deal of comment about public involvement. A consultant will soon be hired to determine what citizen involvement will look like. A citizen’s advisory committee could be formed.

However, for all the concern expressed about LOTT being misunderstood by the public, and the desire for more citizen involvement, LOTT board meetings are not televised, and minutes for the board retreat were not taken, nor was it audiotaped. This was discovered by board members when, at the last LOTT board work session held April 11, board member Tom Oliva asked if meeting minutes were taken at the retreat. The reply by staff was no. It was then half-jokingly suggested by someone that this reporter’s notes could be offered. She stayed the full six hours of the retreat and took over 11pages of detailed, raw notes.

Board work sessions, open to the public, are held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and are held just prior to each monthly board meeting. A boxed dinner is provided to board members by LOTT and board members and staff often eat together in the LOTT cafeteria prior to the meeting. Board meetings start at 7:00 p.m.

Brief summaries, not minutes, of work sessions are available. Work sessions started to be audiotaped last month, Karla Fowler said today.

In terms of LOTT’s strategic business plan, the public’s values and level of expectation for the utility was discussed. Accurate measures of success can be determined if public values translate into board actions, board goals, LOTT core values and levels of service.

LOTT staff outlined areas they value and discussed related challenges in four performance areas: business management; environmental resource management and stewardship; education, communication and partnerships; and human resources and workplace environment.

Strub said that they do a thousand things a day to prevent a LOTT permit violation. He mentioned, as an example, that during the recent winter storm, power outages and blips caused havoc. Staff worked hard to prevent the dumping of raw sewage in Budd Inlet and a dumping was averted with 15 minutes to spare.

Basic questions were addressed and explored, such as how rates were set and whether or not there should be a flat rate for residential service, and if low income discounts could be provided. LOTT staff told board members that they field several calls a day from the public who ask questions like, “Why do I pay the same as my neighbor when I’m single and my neighbor has seven kids?”

LOTT is a wholesaler, billing the cities for treatment costs. The cities set the rates. If LOTT goes down the road of being the provider, LOTT will become a retailer. Discussion ensued about city responsibilities, whether there could be incentives for conservation and volume based rates being difficult to manage and expensive. Langer said metering is expensive, and is happy with the current system. Romero commented that there is increasing pressure for a volume based rate structure as the population ages.

Throughout the day, board members were fully engaged in the process and constantly provided staff feedback on their wishes with respect to their roles, internal structure, and core values. By the end of the board retreat, friction between board members and staff seemed to mellow.

In discussing how LOTT moves forward, Langer said, “We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing as well as being told what to do.”

Oliva commented on the wording of how to describe themselves. “Right now, it’s LOTT this and LOTT that. That’s the old way of thinking, like a corporation, not as a public entity,” said Oliva.

Romero agreed, and wanted entire language about how LOTT describes itself reworded.

“If you talk about its community values, the organization becomes the animal. We can reframe this to show our collective values. What’s missing is the relationship between LOTT and its partners. This is about good faith, communication and cooperation. Let’s pause to figure out who we are. The word ‘Alliance’ is more inclusive of who we are. It shifts the control…the acronym removes people from the entity," said Romero.

Michael Pendleton, facilitator for the day’s discussions, wrapped up sentiments by saying to the group, “You don’t have the luxury of being just a utility anymore. You have core needs, but the public may demand more.”

Langer agreed. “The environmental constituency has gotten louder about Budd Inlet and Puget Sound and our connection with the public has to change.”

Clearly, there is significant work ahead for LOTT partners, and it won’t be easy to change entrenched ways, but optimism reigned by the end of the day.

Eric Hielema, a LOTT senior wastewater engineer who attended the board retreat, commented afterwards, “I was a little scared to do things differently, but now I’m excited.”

For more information about LOTT Clean Water Alliance, 500 Adams St. SE, Olympia, call (360) 664-2333 or go to www.lottcleanwateralliance.org.


Above: This mosaic at the LOTT Clean Water Alliance continues from the picture above, "...of how we live on the land." The full ribbon says, "The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land."

Ecology Requests Comments on Hardel Site Cleanup Plan - Reliable Steel Cleanup Still On Hold

Above: The site of Hardel Mutual Plywood at 1210 West Bay Drive, NW, Olympia overlooks a stunning view of Budd Inlet and the city of Olympia.

Ecology Requests Comments on Hardel Site Cleanup Plan - Reliable Steel Cleanup Still On Hold

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking comments from the public on a draft cleanup action plan for the Hardel Mutual Plywood site at 1210 West Bay Drive NW in Olympia. Ecology began accepting comments on March 22 and will do so until April 20.

Guy Barrett, Washington State Department of Ecology site manager for Hardel, said in a telephone interview late Tuesday that he has only received one official comment so far.

Past business activities at the Hardel site contaminated soil and groundwater. The plan documents include three reports. One describes the nature and extent of contamination, another describes Ecology’s investigation of the site and evaluates cleanup options, and a third describes cleanup options, how Hardel cleaned up the site, and why Ecology considers the cleanup to be complete. The documents are available for review at the Olympia Timberland Library, at the Department of Ecology, or online at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=3704.

While investigating the site, Hardel found that some contamination was moving toward Budd Inlet.

According to Ecology, Hardel has cleaned up the site through an interim cleanup action approved in 2010. After completing the interim action, Hardel sampled groundwater for one year. Since they found no contaminants above cleanup levels, Ecology now considers the cleanup to be complete.

In a fact sheet, Ecology says Hardel found dioxins and phthalates in Budd Inlet sediments but that the contaminants do not seem to be from the site.

Beginning in 1924, the site was used for logging and lumber related businesses. Hardel operated a plywood manufacturing business on the site from 1951-1996. The company ceased operations in Olympia after a fire severely damaged the buildings. The site has nine groundwater monitoring wells and three sediment sampling locations.

Ecology will review all comments received during the comment period, respond, finalize the cleanup action plan, make changes to the plan if necessary, and possibly remove the site from the Hazardous Sites list. Ecology will hold a separate public comment period before removing the site from the list.

There are no known future restrictions for the Hardel property for redevelopment, except those identified by current land use zoning.

There are currently eight sites deemed by Ecology as contaminated throughout the area of Budd Inlet.

Next Door: Reliable Steel


Above: The Reliable Steel site at 1218 West Bay Drive NW, Olympia.

One of the eight contaminated sites is the property next door to Hardel Mutual Plywood, a site known as the former location of Reliable Steel. Owned by Triway Enterprises, the 4.25 acre site is currently being cleared of debris by workers.

Steve Teel, Washington State Department of Ecology site manager for Reliable Steel, says a formal environmental cleanup is still on hold. Ecology was last actively involved with an environmental cleanup plan for the site in 2007-2008 when progress stalled.

"Tri Vo went broke, then we had an agreement with the former owner regarding a remedial study but the corporation dissolved, then Ecology lacked the money to continue," says Teel.

"I'm hoping we can get money July 1st - I'm waiting until the new biennium to use state funds to work on the site. But as far as cleanup goes, we're on hold. We've done the remedial investigation - we know what kind of contaminants are there - we've done the feasibility study as to what the options are to clean it up, and we have a draft cleanup action plan - we just need to revise it," said Teel.

The site was originally developed as a lumber mill. Since 1941, it was used for boat building, welding and steel fabrication.

In 1993, Ecology inspected the site and found levels of arsenic and copper above Ecology standards for marine sediment quality. Ecology requested that welding debris on or near the shore of Budd Inlet be removed.

Ecology was notified in 2006 that total petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals had been found above acceptable cleanup levels in soil and groundwater on the site, and deemed contaminated. The site entered into a voluntary cleanup program, but was later removed from the program due to inactivity. The site was then entered into the formal Washington Model Toxics Control Act cleanup program.

In an email dated March 28, Teel asks Triway Enterprises representative Tori Cookson about the status of the demolition at Reliable Steel, and when the company will be ready for a site inspection.

Ecology did not order the demolition, however, Ecology, the city of Olympia, and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) were all involved in the planning of the work. Permits for it were issued by the city and DFW.

Cookson promptly responded to Teel, saying, in part, "We are behind schedule...The wood stacked around the south end of the site has been sold and is being taken off site in increments."

In an email yesterday that appears to be prompted by this reporter's inquiry about the property, Teel again asks Cookson for a site update.

Through email, Cookson responded today to Teel:

"The party that purchased the wood is moving quickly now to remove all from the premises. Everything is down that was contracted to be demolished but cleanup appeared to be at a stand-still. I am now seeing some cleanup moving forward...."

A call from this reporter to Cookson requesting more information late this afternoon was not returned.

For more information about the Hardel Mutual Plywood draft cleanup action plan and to comment, contact Guy Barrett, Site Manager, Department of Ecology, SW Regional Office Toxics Cleanup Program, P.O. Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504-7775, or phone, (360) 407-7115, or email, Guy.Barrett@ecy.wa.gov.

Public involvement questions can be referred to Diana Smith, Public Involvement Coordinator, Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6255 or email, Diana.Smith@ecy.wa.gov.

For more information about the Reliable Steel site, contact Steve Teel, Washington State Department of Ecology, at (360) 407-6247 or stee461@ecy.wa.gov or go to Ecology's toxics cleanup website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/reliable_stl/rs_hp.htm.


Above: The Reliable Steel site, now with a couple buildings removed, daylights a stormwater pipe. Water flows freely between pipes. "I don't know what feeds that pipe - probably stormwater up the hill," says Steve Teel, state Department of Ecology site manager for Reliable Steel. Teel, a hydrogeologist, says the water there has been sampled and copper showed up, but the source was likely from the stormwater runoff. "Other than that, it was pretty clean," says Teel.

Our Stories Are Our Power: Businesswoman Kelly Cavenah

Above: Local businesswoman Kelly Cavenah outside her office building on Capitol Way today.

Our Stories Are Our Power: Businesswoman Kelly Cavenah

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

At a recent strategy meeting in Olympia, Washington United for Marriage advocates urged local supporters to gather pledges for the approval of Referendum 74. The pledge card asks for contact information, and is just one way supporters seek to identify potential allies, volunteers, campaign donors and establish connections in our community.

“We have been able to defeat every attack on our rights and we’ll beat this too!” exclaimed Anna Schlect, co-chair of Capital City Pride and local gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (GLBT) rights leader. “But it’s going to take work….We’ll have fun, build close relationships, and plan on winning,” she said.

The Washington United for Marriage campaign is supported by several organizations, including Equal Rights Washington, the Human Rights Campaign, the Service Employees International Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Northwest, Legal Voice, and UFCW21, a union composed of grocery, retail and health workers.

Referendum supporters are mobilizing throughout the state, city by city, through door to door canvassing, phonebanking, community education, endorsements and fundraising. Locally, Referendum 74 supporters plan on being visible at community events such as Capital City Pride in June, and Lakefair in July.

Opponents to the marriage equality legislation signed in February by Governor Christine Gregoire were able to start collecting signatures against Referendum 74 on March 13. They will need 120,577 signatures, which they’ll likely reach soon. They have until June 6 to qualify for the ballot and are expected to deliver those signatures by the first week of June.

If the referendum passes in November, the first day gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (GLBT) persons can be legally married in Washington would be in December.

Kelly Cavenah, and her partner Kim Vandewater, are anxiously awaiting that day to make their upcoming September wedding legal in the eyes of the state.

“Kim and I met about seven years ago, when I was 26, struggling with my identity in Seattle. Kim had just come out and we fell in love. It wasn’t the right time for us. I was out to my friends but not my mother and brother. It wasn’t the right time,” explained Cavenah.

“In 2007 my mom and I decided to move to Olympia to start a business. It was important to share with her who I am. I was so nervous about telling her – I was surprised about her support! Now we are active supporters in the GLBT community.”

“So, about two years ago, Kim and I reconnected. The love never left. It grew and it was our time to get together. I’m so proud and happy to say that in January she asked me for her hand in marriage. We’ll be married in the fall. So, like any relationship, we have our ups and downs and struggles, but we’re partners....”

Cavenah owns Home Instead Senior Care, a private duty non-medical home care agency for seniors. A franchise organization, the agency helps people stay in their homes for as long as possible by providing assistance such as companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping and errands. Duties also include personal care such as bathing, toileting and grooming.

“I have a staff of over 50 employees - I pay Labor and Industries, business and occupation taxes, and all state, local, and federal taxes. Our staff provides sustainability to the community – we work hard to provide quality services for our seniors.” Cavenah currently employs six staff members in her cramped Olympia downtown office and 50 caregivers who provide service to 65 clients.


Above: Kelly Cavanah, left, confers about a client with her Home Instead Senior Care office manager Jaime Robinson.

As past chair of the South Sound Alzheimer’s Council and previous board member of the Senior Action Network, Cavenah strives to educate the community about the senior community and their needs.

Cavenah is committed to helping GLBT elders in the South Sound community and helped co-found SAGE-Olympia. SAGE-Olympia, which she currently co-chairs with Anna Schlecht, is a multi-faceted gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender eldercare project for Thurston County. SAGE-Olympia’s mission is to promote the wellness of GLBT elders in the area with a range of referrals, services and social activities.

Cavenah continues with her story, saying she and Kim just bought a house in Lacey.

“As homeowners, we take weekend trips to Home Depot and Lowe’s, we pay our property taxes, which helps support local schools. So, I’m not that different from my mom…or any other average American. We’re a lot more similar than not.”

“And I’m a registered voter,” she adds for emphasis.

Bottom line, Kelly says, “I’m a dedicated partner and daughter…my point is, please don’t treat us as second class citizens….”

Her mother Bertha adds, “You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.”

For more information about the Washington United for Marriage campaign, go to www.WAunited.org or on Twitter: @WA4Marriage or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/WashingtonUnited.

For more information on local Referendum 74 organizing meetings or to collect pledge cards, contact Anna Schlect at annaschlect@gmail.com.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, go to www.homeinstead.com/658 or contact Jaime Robinson, Office Manager, at 570-0049. The office is located in the Evergreen Plaza Building at 711 Capitol Way South, Suite 707, Olympia.

For more information about SAGE-Olympia, go to www.sageolympia.org. The next SAGE-Olympia meeting is in May. Monthly meetings are open to the public.

Full Disclosure/FYI: Janine Unsoeld is a caregiver for seniors by profession and has not worked for Home Instead Senior Care, nor does she necessarily endorse the agency.

“Our Stories Are Our Power” is a periodic series of GLBTQ related stories by Janine Unsoeld at Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com.

Olympia Local Foods Receives Grant To Fulfill Dream

Above: Tom Husmann, center, owner of Olympia Local Foods, accepts a mock check this morning from Carlotta Donisi and Mario Villanueva, both with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.

Olympia Local Foods Receives Grant To Fulfill Dream

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Business owner Tom Husmann of Olympia Local Foods held a celebratory grand opening event this morning to acknowledge his receipt of a $300,000 “value added producer” grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Program. The program helps agriculture producers increase use of their products.

Representatives of that agency, as well as several others who assisted Husmann with receiving the grant, were on hand to congratulate him and speak to the niche he and his wife Celia are filling in helping local farmers find new markets for their products.

“It was a pleasure to work with Tom on this grant opportunity made available through USDA. Accessing available grant programs is a function of matching goals with the purposes and the rules of potential grants. In Tom’s case, we helped him match his intentions - and his grand vision - with our grant,” said Diane Gasaway, executive director of the Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC).

The NWCDC became involved because of Husmann’s purpose to benefit numerous small growers and producers through his business, including a shared kitchen cooperative venture which is still in the initial planning stages.

“I’m sure Tom would agree there were moments of frustration while writing this grant, but his motivation to make his business move forward helped keep us focused, and promises to benefit not only his pastured raised poultry business, but the small producer community in Thurston County. He’s very good at keeping his eyes on the prize,” said Gasaway.

Husmann thanked those involved in helping his business receive the grant, and described the partnerships created throughout the process. In 2008 he and his wife bought a farm outside Chehalis with the dream of producing quality food. He said the process brought up a lot of questions, but he took a scientific approach, and created a website as a virtual farmstand to find out what local products were available and what people were willing to pay.

He also discovered that poultry was an underserved niche in the area. “Now we know who the customers are, what they’ll pay, and how we’ll get it to them. Without the assistance of the rural development program, we wouldn’t have realized our dream, heap the reward of a sustainable farm, and raise our family the way we want to,” said Husmann.

The mock check presented to Husmann is made out to Tachira, Inc. Tachira, Husmann said, stands for Tom And Celia Husmann Inspiration for Rural Agriculture.


Above: Zena Edwards, left, Washington State University's Thurston County interim director of food safety and nutrition, speaks with Lisa Smith, executive director for Enterprise for Equity today at Olympia Local Foods.

Husmann is a 2010 graduate of the Enterprise for Equity program. Lisa Smith, executive director for the program, attended the event, and was enthusiastic in her praise for Husmann.

“When we have funding, a vision, and connections, you have a way of providing the synergy to move things forward,” she said.

Husmann has worked with as many as 50 farmers and local businesses in the last year. To match available products with customers, farmers log onto the Olympia Local Food website and post their available inventory. Customers then place their orders online from Thursday evening through Tuesday morning at www.olympialocalfoods.com. Tickets are sent to the farmers letting them know what sold, and the farmers deliver the product to the store. Customer pickup is on Thursdays between 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Available products at Olympia Local Foods vary week to week, but generally include meats, dairy, deli items, eggs, mushrooms, seafood, and herbs. Produce is currently unavailable. Husmann says, “It’s hard in the winter to come up with fresh produce, and we didn’t want people to be greeted with produce from California at our grand opening, but we will be carrying it.”

Olympia Local Foods is located in a sunny, spacious building at 2010 Black Lake Boulevard, Building B, in West Olympia. Near the Black Lake/Cooper Point Road intersection, take the driveway tucked between Sushi House restaurant and a Texaco gas station to find the building.

Starting April 16, the store will be open for regular walk-in retail service 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. everyday except Saturday.


Above: Local businesses show a sense of humor...this hot sauce at Olympia Local Foods was...cluckin' hot!

First Day of Spring in Olympia

Above: Julia Crane-Jacobs, 4 1/2 years old, gets some help from her mother, Tamara Crane, while blowing bubbles today on the first day of spring.

First Day of Spring in Olympia

by Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

A 20 year tradition continued today as kids of all ages welcomed the first day of Spring at Percival Landing in downtown Olympia. Come wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail and yes, sun, the show goes on, and gathers both those who have participated for years, and newcomers alike. Today, the weather cooperated beautifully during the noon hour celebration.


Above: Gita Moulton makes sure the garland is just right on The Kiss statue this morning on Percival Landing.


Above: Alejandra Marroquin of Boston couldn't resist posing with The Kiss, while her friend, Ilse Romero of Mexico, takes her picture today.

A LOTT More to Learn About LOTT

Above: The LOTT Clean Water Alliance was looking a little surreal today.

A LOTT More to Learn About LOTT

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance board of directors will meet at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, March 17, at LOTT, 500 Adams St. SW, for a day-long retreat to discuss public accountability, contemporary issues, board goals and policies, and updates to LOTT's strategic business plan. The retreat is expected to adjourn no later than 3 p.m. The public is invited, but comments from the public will not be allowed.

An agenda detailing the retreat’s subject matter was distributed to the public and board members by LOTT executive director Mike Strub at a work session of the board Wednesday night. LOTT is at the end of its current six year business plan and will take time to develop a new strategic business plan for 2013 – 2018.

LOTT is a regional water and wastewaste treatment organization representing Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County. The LOTT board is composed of Cynthia Pratt, Lacey city councilmember, Steve Langer, Olympia city councilmember, and Sandra Romero, Thurston County commissioner. Tom Oliva, Tumwater city councilmember, is currently representing Tumwater.

At Wednesday night’s LOTT board meeting, board members and staff honored the recent passing of Tumwater city councilmember and LOTT board president Ed Stanley with remembrances and a moment of silence.

Among other business, board members heard a variety of staff requests for expenditures having to do with infrastructure, an operations control room remodel, a motor control center upgrade, and an electrical room audit and equipment replacement plan. LOTT board members actively engaged staff with questions and approved the requests. As noted by LOTT board member Steve Langer, “It’s not glamorous work, but important work.”

A new board president was not chosen due to the absence of Tom Oliva, who had another meeting to attend. Lacey city councilmember Cynthia Pratt serves as vice-president and is acting president until a president is chosen at next month’s meeting.

Getting To Know Cynthia Pratt


Above: Lacey city councilmember Cynthia Pratt today.

Earlier this month, Pratt attended LOTT’s recent science symposium on compounds – contaminants – of emerging concern. (See March 5 article, “A LOTT of Concerns About Drinking Water Quality and related articles at www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com.)

Asked later what she learned that was new to her at the symposium, Pratt, a retired fish and wildlife biologist, said, “What I learned was that even saccharine shows up in effluent. Is it dangerous? Well, as the toxicologist stated, it depends on dosage and susceptibility. People with the least robust immune systems are at risk. And yes, this is how risk is determined---or at least that is how my pesticides class at TESC defined risk.”

Pratt received her Master’s in Environmental Science in 1992 from The Evergreen State College.

“Also, it was noted by one or two presenters that California uses not only tertiary treatment plus ultraviolet but then reverse osmosis then puts it into their drinking water reservoir where it gets contaminated again by birds and animals! Someone in the audience thought this was commendable, but it seemed strange to me.”

Asked whether or not our society can be a little too risk averse, Pratt responded, “Well, I must admit, my daughter and grandchildren live in Zambia where, occasionally, snakes end up in the toilet, and when you go to the villages, there are open sewage ditches with planks you walk across to get to the other side!”

Helping Lacey and Thoughts About LOTT

Lacey is a member of the National League of Cities, and Pratt was recently accepted by the League onto the Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources steering committee. The committee meets four times a year.

Pratt just returned this past weekend from a League meeting in Washington D.C., where she heard a presentation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency speak about energy efficiency and weatherization, and water infrastructure, repair and maintenance.

“I feel really pleased to do this, and give input, because it can help get funding into municipalities, and of course, Lacey really cares about that. And we’re hoping to get money for repairs, because leaking sewer pipes are a major source of non-point source pollution,” said Pratt.

To clarify the role of the LOTT board, Pratt explained that the board does not provide environmental oversight. “It is accountable to ratepayers, ensure financial solvency, and makes sure it follows its interagency agreements.”

Asked about the groundwater study LOTT is beginning, to examine the issue of increasing the recharge of our groundwater with reclaimed water, Pratt said the study’s scope of work will definitely include public involvement.

“If we did determine that any change to what we're doing now is the way to go, it would have to be based on sound science. If you have to go with something that’s going to cost ratepayers more, they need to be involved.”

“I’m hoping we don’t have to go to reverse osmosis – the process takes a lot of energy and there’s no easy place to put the brine,” Pratt concluded.

“I am looking forward to the study that LOTT will do, but the question is, will it then be believed if it shows that LOTT doesn't contaminate our drinking water? Probably not. We need to do the study - don't get me wrong - but what are we going to do then, if it does show an effect? We certainly can then take aggressive action to eliminate contamination,” Pratt said.

Asked whether or not LOTT should have a citizen’s advisory committee to help provide input, Pratt said, “You know, LOTT is a funny entity. There isn’t an advisory committee. It isn’t set up that way. It’s not a municipality – it has a business model like the Economic Development Council (EDC) or a public utility district. It’s not that you can’t have one, and I’m not against having one,” said Pratt.

Pratt noted that she is a proponent of open government. She, along with Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero, has long advocated that LOTT board meetings be televised on cable television. LOTT has so far been reluctant to do so.

Pratt noted that as a Lacey city councilmember, she and fellow councilmember Andy Ryder recently succeeded in getting Lacey city council meetings to be streamed on the city of Lacey website, for those who do not have television. As a councilmember, she also hosts informal monthly breakfasts for the public to speak with her about various concerns.

Regarding the LOTT board retreat meeting tomorrow to develop a new strategic business plan, Pratt says, “This is an opportunity (for LOTT) to do more.”

For more information about LOTT or the board retreat, go to www.lottcleanwateralliance.org or call the LOTT Clean Water Alliance at (360) 528-5719.

To reach Lacey Councilmember Cynthia Pratt, contact her at cpratt@ci.lacey.wa.us, or at her Lacey city council office, (360) 491-3214.

County Planning Commission Removes Reclaimed Water Language from Draft CAO

Above: The southernmost tip of Budd Inlet features downtown Olympia, the Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance in this aerial file photo from 2006.

County Planning Commission Removes Reclaimed Water Language from Draft CAO

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

In a meeting Wednesday night March 7 of the Thurston County Planning Commission, the commissioners discussed groundwater infiltration of reclaimed water and its regulation, then followed a staff recommendation to remove several pages of its language from the draft Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO).

The action of removing the reclaimed water language from the draft CAO prohibits its use in critical aquifer recharge areas.

The county planning commission is a nine member citizen’s advisory committee to the county commissioners. The county's CAO has not been updated since 1994 and several chapters are being rewritten, one of which regards Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARA). Infiltration of reclaimed water is not currently regulated by the existing CAO.

"If it’s not mentioned, it’s prohibited," says Andrew Deffobis, county associate planner who worked hard on the draft language. "We put a lot of time into it, and it’s all good in theory, but it’s a topic that will benefit from significant public input. This was a way to make that happen," said Deffobis in a recent telephone interview.

Placeholder language, based on the outcome of further study and public process, says the CAO could be amended at a later date to include standards regarding reclaimed water.

Informed by this reporter of the county planning commission's decision to remove the reclaimed water language from the draft CAO, Romero commented on Saturday, "It's good to take a cautious approach - there's too much at stake."

Language from work conducted by the planning commission would have required water to have been processed through advanced treatment such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration.

Strictly worded language also stated that, "when a federal or state standard or management recommendation is established…reclaimed water will not contain emerging contaminants at levels documented as having harmful effects on salmonids when it enters the surface water body…."

At two presentations earlier this month, a wide variety of elected officials, state, city and county agency staff, and community members heard several scientists speak to the issue of aquifer recharge with treated wastewater, the presence of compounds - also known as chemicals or contaminents - of emerging concern, and the high cost of advanced treatment facilities. The event was sponsored by the LOTT Clean Water Alliance and the state Department of Health.

County Commissioner Sandra Romero, Thurston County’s representative to LOTT, attended a presentation, and heard the scientists state that, based on current science, such absolutes ensuring that human and aquatic life will not be harmed by the infiltration of treated water into our groundwater are not yet possible. When asked, the scientists also expressed their opinions that an advanced treatment plant here was not necessary, and that technologies work very well to meet current drinking water standards.

The county commissioners also serve as the county’s board of health.

Concerns expressed to the planning commission late last year during public hearing testimony on the draft CAO, and the CARA chapter specifically, factored into the decision to delete the language.

Rich Hoey, now the public works director for the City of Olympia, testified to the planning commissioners that while the city of Olympia shares the county’s interests in protecting drinking water, the draft requirement for advanced treatment of reclaimed water goes too far to address as yet undefined risks. The city recommended that the CARA section on reclaimed water be placed on hold until LOTT’s groundwater study is complete.

LOTT’s Reaction to Planning Commission Action

LOTT has just begun a four year study exploring putting treated wastewater into the county’s groundwater aquifer as part of its plan to deal with wastewater and meet future drinking water needs. LOTT identified several barriers contained in the county’s draft CAO language that would hinder their plans in managing future volumes of wastewater.

On Friday, Mike Strub, LOTT’s executive director, was asked to comment on the county planning commission's decision.

"For us, the glass is 98% full…. We at LOTT have no problem waiting to build a groundwater infiltration recharge basin – the next one was planned near Tumwater, technically in the county in the growth management area. It wasn’t going to be completed until 2018 anyway. We are in agreement to not permit that until we have data with the groundwater study to inform that decision, but as far as taking out the whole language, to prohibit reclaimed water use, that may have unintended consequences," said Strub.

Strub expressed concern for several small Class A plants in the county. "Tenino just built a new one, Yelm has one, Grand Mound has one, and Rainier is considering one - they’re on septic tanks and things are in tough shape there - so, this may have a broader impact than they (the county planning commissioners) were thinking…."

"But we have time to consider minor modifications and suggest changes. My feeling is that most of what we recommended – to do additional science, do additional work and let that guide future permits and regulations – was heard, but we think there are other ways we can achieve our (mutual) goals," Strub added optimistically.

The county planning commission will forward their recommendation to the county commissioners for final approval. When this will happen, Deffobis says, is the "million dollar question." He estimates that the draft critical areas ordinance will be forwarded to the county commissioners in about two months, then more public hearings will be held.

For more information about the draft Critical Areas Ordinance or the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area chapter, contact Thurston County Associate Planner Andrew Deffobis at (360) 786-5467 or deffoba@co.thurston.wa.us or go to www.thurstonplanning.org.

The next LOTT board meeting is Wednesday, March 14, 5:30 pm, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. The LOTT board retreat is Saturday, March 17, 500 Adams. St. NE. They will discuss their strategic business plan for 2013 - 2018. For more information, contact Lisa Dennis-Perez at (360) 528-5719 or go to www.lottcleanwateralliance.org.

A LOTT of Concerns About Drinking Water Quality

Above: Pharmaceuticals, above, are Compounds of Emerging Concern (CECs) in our drinking water.

A LOTT of Concerns About Drinking Water Quality

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

About 150 state and local government officials, staff, scientists and members of the public participated in a scientific symposium at LOTT Clean Water Alliance last week to discuss pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other contaminants - compounds - entering the environment through reclaimed water and the discharge of treated water into Budd Inlet.

Sponsored by LOTT and the Washington State Department of Health, the event was just the beginning to educate the community about the issue as LOTT, a regional organization comprised of the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County, starts a four year study on groundwater aquifer management.

Lacking surface water options, Thurston County uses groundwater for its drinking water. After wastewater treatment, the water is discharged into Budd Inlet. In recognition of our region's limited water resources, LOTT is exploring the idea of increasing the recharge of our groundwater with reclaimed or highly treated water.

Currently, the downtown Budd Inlet plant reclaims about one million gallons per day that is used for irrigation purposes. Newer treatment plants on Martin Way and Hawks Prairie produce reclaimed water, some of which is already returned to our aquifers.

Using reclaimed water to recharge our drinking water sources is part of a national trend. Scientists at the LOTT symposium gave two case examples of systems in Arizona and Southern California that already feature direct potable water reuse - a pipe to pipe system.

At issue is the presence of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) in the environment, the potential impact to public health and the environment, and what happens to CECs during wastewater treatment and when reclaimed water is infiltrated to groundwater.

Five nationally and internationally recognized scientists discussed the margins of exposure, the transport of CECs during managed aquifer recharge, and regulatory issues and efforts focused on water reuse. Each presented charts and graphs showing their research and work in the engineering, toxicology, and water quality fields.

"Emerging does not mean that these chemicals are new - it’s just that modern chemistry and technology can detect them at lower and lower levels," said Robert Bastian, senior environmental scientist with the Office of Wastewater Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington D.C.

This detection, however, has raised concerns about potential effects to human health and ecosystems, along with concerns about the adequacy and accuracy of studies.

The levels of biodegradability and persistence of chemicals, many of which are commonplace in most people’s everyday use, was compelling information.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that these compounds are not much of a problem and the organization is not going to produce guidelines, said Joseph Costruvo, Ph.D., who is a member of the WHO Drinking Water Guidelines development committee and was director of the Criteria and Standards Division of the U.S. EPA’s Office of Drinking Water. The Environmental Protection Agency is thinking of producing guidelines, he said.

The scientists repeatedly described that the margin of exposure through drinking water as minimal, and, using the example of drugs, compared the exposure to the therapeutic dose actually prescribed by doctors and ingested directly. These drugs, both prescribed and illicit, also include caffeine, antibiotics, veterinary medicines and vitamins. Personal care products also include a variety of chemicals.

Several drugs that many people have in their medicine cabinets, such as gemfibrozil, carbamazepine, and primidone are troublemakers for wastewater treatment plants and are considered “persistent,” meaning they are not biodegradable.

Another persistent compound, triclosan, is a common ingredient in name brand toothpastes such as Total and Colgate. Other troublemakers are sucralose, sugar substitutes better known by name brand products such as Sweet N Low, Splenda, and Equal. They are made to not be absorbed by the body and are thus excreted as waste into our water supply systems.

Some CECs, however, are not drugs, and are not biodegradable, such as flame retardants. Some of the chemicals discussed also included known endrocrine disrupting compounds, called EDCs. Some chemical sources are natural, and are included in food and dietary supplements.

Local Reactions

After the program, local public officials and agency staff expressed a great deal of interest and concern about the issue and what they were learning.

Tom Oliva, Tumwater city councilmember and Tumwater’s representative to LOTT since the recent passing of Tumwater City Councilmember Ed Stanley, wondered what the appropriate process was for what the region wants.

"Do you want to spend this much money or that much money? There’s a rush to want to treat to zero contamination – what the scientists here said is that kind of water doesn’t exist in the first place. I want to drink clean water, but how dirty is it? Technology is going to change within our generation. The scientists here aren’t overwhelmed by local political baggage, so let’s make an informed decision, not a hasty one.”

Oliva said Tumwater has a big stake in the issue of reclaimed water, as it will begin use 600,000 gallons of it starting next year to irrigate the Tumwater Valley golf course.

“I learned a lot – the science involved, the chemicals, methods and standards for exposure. It’s a pretty complicated subject,” added Oliva.


Above: Personal care products are compounds of concern for wastewater treatment plants.

Diana Yu, MD, health officer for Thurston and Mason counties, also expressed concern and passion about the information she heard.

“What they (the scientists) did for me was put things into perspective…if we want to rid the world of CECs, we need to stop using those products. People and industries need to stop relying so much on chemicals and medications, from fertilizers to weed control to contraceptives, antibiotics and pain killers - do we really need all that? What goes into our bodies, comes out the other end and has to be disposed of,” said Yu.

"A lot of what they said made sense...The biggest issue will be about the "unknown." How will it affect us? What about our children's future? The air we breathe is laden with chemicals. The foods we eat may also be exposed to chemicals. In the past, potability of water was based on it being free of pathogens. We still use that as a surrogate measure. As technology gets better, we will find more and more things in the water, not because they were not there before but because our technology has improved so much we can quantify small amounts," Yu continued.

About drinking reclaimed water, Yu said, "I do not think I am quite ready to drink out of the pipe directly, although it seems like some of the experts have done so. I have to do some more thinking about the information I received. The bottom line is how can I weigh the perceived risks to health without being paralyzed by fear. We do need water to live. In our lifetime, how much of the minute amounts of whatever we encounter in the water will actually affect our health?"

How much does Thurston County want to spend?

LOTT operates two Class A reclaimed water facilities that filters out a majority of CECs. The Thurston County Planning Commission wrote into their draft critical areas ordinance many protective measures, including an advanced treatment plant using technologies such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration, prior to groundwater recharge. When asked about this, the scientists at the symposium said that this is not necessary, in their opinion, and that water can be overtreated.

"Pure water is not good for you. Fish cannot live in pure water. Overpurifying anything is not good, as it robs you of essential minerals," said Shane Synder of the University of Arizona.

"Is it worth it? No, not in my opinion," said Robert Bastian of the U.S. EPA. Describing the examples of two very advanced treatment facilities in San Diego and Los Angeles, he added, "Now we know why California is bankrupt - they like to spend money....There are several barriers to take compounds out, and overall, technologies work very well and meet all drinking water standards," he added.

The quantities of these compounds in water were described by the scientists as being very small. For example, CECs in treated wastewater are measured in parts per trillion. One part per trillion is one drop in 16 Olympic swimming pools, said Shane Synder, Ph.D. of the University of Arizona. CECs in drinking water are present in even smaller amounts, sometimes not even detectable by today's instruments.

"We can do anything to water. What’s your goal? It must be determined case by case and is site specific. All do a pretty good job to easily meet drinking water standards – it’s all doable, it just depends on how much you want to pay,” said Jorg Drewes, Ph.D., professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at at the Colorado School of Mines.

Drewes gave case examples - Orange County, California is spending $450 million, supported by the community through a bond measure, to build a full range treatment plant. Orange County is facing a shortage of water and found this option was cheaper than shipping water from the Colorado River.

Audience member Maria Victoria Peeler, an engineer who works for the state Department of Ecology, is responsible for developing policy for some persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals, primarily mercury. As co-chair of the international mercury reduction initiative for state regulators, she has been working at the international level for five years.

Commenting after the program Peeler expressed some disappointment with the program, saying, "PBTs is one of the biggest problems we have in the state. What I didn’t hear about, and of concern to me, is nanotechnology, the science of manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level. There has been a spark of activity in the last 10 years within the business and industrial community to produce products created by nanotechnology and process waste at a municipal level, products like batteries, mascara, lipstick, and other consumer products. Pharmaceuticals are no doubt a big issue. We can detect them, track, and control them, but that’s not the case with engineered nanoparticals,” said Peeler.

Another attendee, Jim Casebolt, president and operator of the Pattison Water Company in Lacey which services about 1,600 homes since 1964, expressed concern with LOTT’s plans. LOTT has acquired property within the area where he gets his water from several wells and is concerned about chemicals and pollutants in reclaimed water.

"Listening to the people who presented, they sounded pretty good, but they are representing the reclaimed water industry. I’m pretty sure you could round up a group of other scientists who could present a great deal of concerns," said Casebolt.

What's Next?

After the program, LOTT’s executive director Mike Strub was asked about the scope of LOTT’s groundwater recharge study. He said the scope of the study has not yet been determined, "but we want to add to the science, take advantage of science around the nation so that it’s safe and meets the intent of beneficial use. There are different conditions within the whole watershed: rural, urban/industrial, and urban. We want to take a global approach to our watershed – this study will inform those lofty goals. The first several months (of the study) will be very active, and include community input. This is good timing to start talking about some of the topics and we welcome comments."

What You Can Do For Starters:

Properly dispose of your prescription medicines, including narcotics, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins, so they don’t end up in the water system. Several secure drop boxes, installed in 2010, are located throughout Thurston County. Go to www.ThurstonTOGETHER.org for a list of locations.

For more information about the Compounds of Emerging Concern Science Symposium held March 2, 2012, go to: www.lottcleanwateralliance.org. To receive information about LOTT's groundwater recharge study and public involvement opportunities, email LOTT or leave a message with your name, mailing address, and/or email address at (360) 528-5716.