What a sad, black day for the 400,000+ residents who depend on clean drinking water. The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and the Department of Ecology were on hand to give their blessings on the opening of the dump on Monday, December 13. These are the same agencies who preach safety and protection of our water, but who stand by and watch a company who we believe didn't have all their permits, begin to dump garbage atop a liner that will fail and the soil we believe is NOT impermeable.

According to Sue Mauermann of the DOE, the rainy season is "a bad time of year" to open a landfill, but there has been no "monitored pollution from the site". Duh, are we missing something here?

Don't worry, the garbage is being dumped in an area that has no water in it. Then we read that the water contaminated by the leaking garbage juice will be pumped out, collected and trucked away to be treated. What's wrong with this picture? Plus with the wonderful leak detection system and pumping system in place, no problem. Guess the extensive EPA's findings about clogged and failed leak detection systems and liner failure fell on deaf ears.

CROWD is determined to prevent the pollution of our only source of clean water, our aquifer under the dump site. January 2000 begins a new round of court hearings before the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Our position is clear and our attorneys are optimistic. But the legal battle will be costly and the courtroom activity must be supported by a well-informed and vocal public. Thanks to our local Eatonville Dispatch, our community is aware of the truth behind these issues. But the residents of the greater Tacoma area have not been so well-informed.

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Mission of the Health Department

OUR MISSION - To safeguard and enhance the health of the communities of Pierce County. OUR VISION - Communities will understand their key health problems. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will provide leadership for prevention through an ongoing development process.

The Mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

Goals
Prevent pollution
Clean up pollution
Support sustainable communities and natural resources
Strategic Initiatives
Meet current and future water needs of people, farms, and fish Develop a comprehensive approach to watershed management that covers water quantity, quality, and habitat
Increase efforts to solve pollution problems from small but numerous sources

The quality and availability of water are the biggest issue we face.

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Maybe these agencies need to be reminded who they work for.

DOE

PCHD