Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light briefed the City Council’s Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee on March 26 on proposed authority to spend beyond current budget cycles to participate in investigation and cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site.

The briefing said the cleanup is a multi‑decade effort that will be carried out under a consent decree and funded by a mix of settlements, potential state matching funds and utility rate revenue. Andrew Lee, general manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), said residents who experienced flooding in December 2022 asked whether their homes should be tested for contamination and asked, “Is my family now at risk for exposure to PCBs, a known carcinogen?”

The committee heard technical background and funding details. Ellen Stewart, deputy director of SPU’s drainage and wastewater line of business, described the Lower Duwamish Waterway as a roughly five‑mile industrial corridor between Harbor Island and the Turning Basin and said EPA is leading cleanup under federal Superfund law. Stewart said cleaning will typically involve dredging of contaminated sediments, capping in some areas and long‑term monitoring; the upper reach design completed in 2023 and full‑scale work on that reach began in November 2024.

Stewart and presenters detailed schedule and scope: cleanup work is phased from upstream to downstream to avoid recontamination; the upper reach cleanup will take about three years because in‑water work is limited to an October–February fish window; engineering design for the middle reach is expected to be complete in 2027; full construction for the overall project is expected to take roughly 10 years.

Presenters summarized negotiated financial terms and the utilities’ expected liabilities. The City’s negotiated settlements include $88,000,000 in settlement funds for the city, EPA oversight costs waived of $10,500,000, and $5,500,000 for costs already incurred. EPA’s 30‑year cost estimate was presented as $667,000,000 (in 2023 dollars); SPU’s internal estimate was presented as $757,000,000 (in 2024 dollars). The three performing parties’ shares were described as Boeing 53.6%, the city 31.5% (split internally 85% SPU / 15% Seattle City Light), and King County 14.9%; the city’s gross share was said to equal about $238,000,000 before potential state matches.

Stewart said some of the city’s remaining balance may be eligible for state grants under the Model Toxics Control Act at up to a 50% match; presenters said if the full 50% match is awarded the city’s net cost would be about $70,000,000. Speakers also noted additional settlements: the U.S. government’s negotiated payment of $140,000,000, a collective $141,000,000 from 39 other smaller parties, and a $1,000,000 payment from Lumen. Presenters said part of an earlier settlement with Monsanto will be used both for cleanup and for related water quality projects along the river.

Legal and procedural steps were described: all parties have signed the consent decree and settlement agreements; the Department of Justice has given preliminary approval; the council was told the ordinance before the committee is intended to authorize utility expenditures beyond the current budget cycle so SPU and Seattle City Light can pay for cleanup work as costs fall across years. Brian Goodnight of council central staff noted that King County’s council is scheduled to consider related legislation on April 1.

Committee members asked technical and programmatic questions. Councilmember Strauss sought clarification about why nearby short monitoring zones, capping and dredge zones can appear adjacent on maps; presenters said EPA monitoring identified hotspots and that the final remedy for each patch will be determined during engineering design and will be iterative with long‑term monitoring. Strauss and other members asked where dredged material will be disposed of; presenters said contaminated material will go to an appropriate landfill that accepts hazardous dredge material.

Committee members and presenters also discussed source control and recontamination risks. Laura Wyshick, assistant city attorney, urged continued and expanded efforts to control ongoing sources of contaminants — including stormwater and historic sources — because many contaminants (for example PCBs) are widespread in the built environment and can re‑enter waterways through stormwater runoff. Andrew Lee and Ellen Stewart described a layered approach: source control and manufacturing changes where possible, building‑level remediation in some upland sites, and treatment and green stormwater infrastructure as downstream defenses. Presenters noted planning for larger regional treatment investments, including a proposed Mouth of Duwamish CSO project led by King County.

Speakers highlighted community and tribal engagement. Stewart said tribal consultation has been handled through EPA processes and that tribes participated in meetings where they wanted to be involved. Council President Nelson and others recognized the longstanding work of community groups such as the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (noted in the meeting as now identified as Duwamish River Community Coalition) and cited prior health‑impact analyses informing the process.

Public comment during the meeting included one in‑person speaker whose remarks did not address the agenda item; Chair Joy Hollingsworth said the speaker used an antisemitic salute and language and she stated that those remarks referenced the Nazi party. A remote speaker who had registered did not appear.

No formal council vote on the ordinance occurred during the March 26 committee meeting; presenters and councilmembers said the item will return for further committee consideration and that additional council and county approvals are still required.

The presentation and committee discussion focused on the technical decisions that EPA and the performing parties (the city, King County and Boeing) will make during engineering design, the multi‑party funding structure and the need to keep source control and long‑term monitoring central to the plan. Committee members asked for continued updates on engineering design, disposal plans for dredged material, tribal government consultation and the status of state grant applications and DOJ approval steps.