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Twin Harbors Waterkeeper warns of hazardous contamination at Cosmo site, urges faster cleanup
Summary
Lee Furst of Twin Harbors Waterkeeper told the Aberdeen City Council the Cosmo Specialty Fibers site holds large volumes of hazardous chemicals in failing tanks and urged city engagement with Ecology and EPA; the organization plans a public meeting and has been funded with public-participation grants.
Lee Furst, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper, told the council the group has tracked multiple contaminated sites in Grays Harbor County and urged more urgent cleanup steps at the Cosmo Specialty Fibers site. Furst said the site contains large, poorly stored chemical inventories and that state and federal agencies have issued orders and site evaluations.
Furst described the state’s Model Toxics Control Act cleanup process and said the port and proponents chose voluntary cleanup for a proposed wood-power-plant site, which limits public-comment opportunities. On Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Furst cited an Ecology agreed order and an EPA removal-site-evaluation report and urged council support for public meetings and stronger enforcement if the owner does not comply. "There are 800,000 gallons of toxic chemicals in leaking tanks right next to the river," Furst said, adding that other tanks hold roughly 1,700,000 gallons.
The presenter offered to provide the council with copies of the agreed order, EPA reports and a SHARP tool site-rating reference and suggested the city help organize an October public meeting to include Ecology, EPA and local emergency-response staff. Council members asked about responsibilities for emergency response and the timelines Ecology and EPA were enforcing; Furst said Ecology had set a six-month compliance expectation for the owner and that the agencies could remove or stabilize materials if the owner failed to comply.
Council thanked the presenter and requested the PowerPoint and supporting documents for staff review and potential coordination with Ecology and emergency responders.
