(Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times), Many of the earliest COVID ‘long-haulers’ still suffer; Seattle researchers are trying to figure out why, How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Seattle, King County and Washington state, Coronavirus daily news updates, January 25: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world, DNA puts a name to one of the last unidentified victims of the Green River killer, Stealth Navy SEAL training in 28 Washington state parks? Immediately downstream of the dam, it lay in streaks of black on the beach. Lisa Anderson, tribal attorney, shook her head and grimaced at the mess. U.S. files lawsuit over pollution in Puyallup River Updated 2:52 pm CST, Thursday, November 26, 2020 ... LLC, which owns the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River. He walked off the job over the installation of the turf liner and a large fish kill at the dam that took place the same day of the spill, which occurred overnight on July 29. The Puyallup Tribe was first alerted to the spill by a social media post put up July 31 by Derek Van Giesen, a former employee of Electron Hydro, an owner of the Electron Hydropower Project. Van Giesen said in an interview he put up the post because as a lifelong fisherman who grew up along the Puyallup, he was disgusted by what he saw. The Seattle Times reports that the Justice Department filed the lawsuit Wednesday against Electron Hydro, LLC, which owns the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River. Posted November 26, 2020 5:59 p.m. EST Updated November 26, 2020 6:00 p.m. EST Rubber debris already is likely more than 40 miles downriver in Puget Sound. “I feel anger, so much anger,” Miller said. Currently Reading. By Nicole Jennings October 30, 2020 at 2:18 pm. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times), Pieces of rubber from artificial turf used in a retrofit of Electron Dam are found on the banks of the Puyallup River 14 miles from the dam. The turf can break down and discharge toxins in the river that contains salmon and bull trout. According to the consultant’s report, the company, as part of its work on a bypass channel at the dam, placed 2,409 square yards of FieldTurf on the channel between July 20 and 27. While Native and non-Native people alike once fished for steelhead in the river, this decline has been of particular concern to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. “I just quit. Puyallup Air Quality Index (AQI) is now Good. U.S. Justice Department suing over Puyallup River pollution Nov. 26, 2020 Updated: Nov. 26, 2020 8:12 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Reconstruction at the dam is intended, along with screens and other equipment, to prevent fish and sediment from entering the flume, used to deliver water for the project. The lawsuit contends the company in July without authorization used old field turf from a dump as a bottom layer when it diverted the river. Justice Department Sues Over Pollution in Puyallup River The U.S. Department of Justice says the owners of a hydroelectric project in south-central Washington violated the … Sun., Aug. 30, 2020. The consultant, Shane Cherry of Shane Cherry Consulting of Fort Myers, Florida, estimated that at least 617 square yards of the artificial turf was ruptured by the river; about 1,792 square yards remain in place under the liner. More than 40 miles of the Puyallup River were polluted by crumb rubber, officials say. ... Not only are rain gardens beautiful and easy to maintain, they are also highly effective at filtering pollution out of stormwater runoff and slowing the flow of runoff into local creeks and rivers. “Even I know the water table is right underneath the liner, and I’m just an average Joe,” he said. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River November 27, 2020 Agriculture , Environment , News , Outdoors , Washington , Wildlife The owners of a hydroelectric project in south-central Washington violated the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Department of Justice says in a lawsuit seeking monetary damages and cleanup work. The night of July 29, the diverted river — well known for its rock-chucking high flows — ripped pieces of the liner and turf loose, sending hunks of artificial turf and a torrent of loose black crumb rubber downriver. In black waves, drifts and bands, crumbs of rubber are polluting miles of the Puyallup River after a spill at a dam project last month. TodayHeadline U.S. files lawsuit over pollution in Puyallup River ... LLC, which owns the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River. Canada geese and eagles feasted on stranded fish as all attention was shifted from rescuing the fish in the dewatering channel to rescuing the workers. U.S. Justice Department suing over Puyallup River pollution November 26, 2020 GMT The civil suit was filed against Electron Hydro, LLC, Wednesday at the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. District Court for the Western District, The Seattle Times reported . That is my goal and my hope of what we should strive for. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River 11/26/2020. In a statement, the Puyallup Tribe said that Electron Hydro “stranded, suffocated and pulverized thousands of adults and juvenile fish” during construction work this past summer. “It hurts to see how much damage they are doing to our lands and waters, everyone’s lands and waters.”. But 600 square yards (500 square meters) of the turf tore into pieces and entered the river channel. Eddie Izzard to use the pronouns 'she' and 'her' Justice Department Sues Over Pollution in Puyallup River The U.S. Department of Justice says the owners of a hydroelectric project in south-central Washington violated the … The run is greatly diminished today to a little over 1,000 fish and was listed for protection in 1999 under the ESA. “It will always be a fish killer. Read the air pollution in Puyallup, Washington with AirVisual. Facility Operational Puyallup's largest ever public works project, at a total cost of about $27 million, reached a milestone on April 27, 1999, when sewage was re-routed through the City's newly expanded Water Pollution Control Plant. By Nicole Jennings September 15, 2020 at 11:10 am. What is on video here is just a small portion of the spill …, “All the rubber is actually inside the astro turf … and spills out when moved.”. It is the mountain. Hunks of plastic liner and waste field turf material were found all over the Puyallup River, including at least 5,000 feet downstream of the construction site. U.S. Justice Department Suing Over Puyallup River Pollution The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owners of the Electron dam for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. Fish and Wildlife reported a fish kill on the river the same day, as Electron Hydro dewatered a stretch of the river during routine maintenance at its dam, causing what the department described as “a large fish kill, resulting in the loss of ESA-listed species, including Chinook, and bull trout, along with coho, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and sculpin.”. At least 4 to 6 cubic yards of crumb rubber — each piece about the size of a fat coffee ground — was released to the river, in the pristine upper reaches of the Puyallup, about 6 miles from the boundary with Mount Rainier National Park. The turf was intended to function as an underlayment for a plastic liner put on top of it. the removal of the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River, after its owners, Electron Hydro, LLC, polluted the river with sheets of artificial turf during a recent construction project. Electron Hydro crews had neither the proper equipment nor used proper techniques during the dewatering procedure, resulting in fish being killed by high temperatures and lack of oxygen, according to the on-scene report written by Tara Livingood-Schott, a WDFW biologist. To him this latest event is nothing new in the history of a dam the tribe never wanted. Newsletters Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River. The question now is how to clean up the mess, just weeks before adult chinook salmon listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act are expected to arrive on their homeward journey. Nov. 26, 2020 Updated: Nov. 26, 2020 3:02 p.m. ... LLC, which owns the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River. Get real-time, historical and forecast PM2.5 and weather data. November 26, 2020. “To me, my church is the river. Citizens for a Healthy Bay and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance have sent Bellingham-based Electron Hydro, LLC a notice of intent to sue in 60 days over pollution in the Puyallup River. by Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times The river would have deposited crumb rubber all along the way, a distance of some 40 miles, in channel margins, in deep pools, in coves and river bends, and continued redistributing it ever since. Clean water is important … we have one mother Earth and it is being degraded as we speak.”. U.S. Justice Department suing over Puyallup River pollution November 26, 2020 GMT The civil suit was filed against Electron Hydro, LLC, Wednesday at the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. District Court for the Western District, The Seattle Times reported . The total number of fish lost was unknown, she reported, “but my best educated guess would be in the thousands,” including unauthorized lethal take of ESA-listed fall chinook, winter steelhead and bull trout in all life stages. The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owners of the Electron dam for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. The work became dangerous for the crew, too, as two of them sank in mud up to their waists, she reported. Officials at Electron Hydro could not be reached for comment. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I knew it was not the right place for me. The company did not inform regulators of the pollution discharge until Aug. 4, according to a consultant’s report on the spill prepared for Electron Hydro. “Fish are important. It’s a new era,” he said. The company should not be permitted to resume its work on its project and must instead clean up the river, Anderson said. The crumb rubber rapidly and widely dispersed into the river and has traveled at least 19 miles downstream, according to the suit. This is what ELECTRON HYDRO is putting under the rubber Mats at the temporary spillway,at the head works of the flume on…. The pollution is the result of unpermitted use of thousands of yards of artificial turf by the dam’s owners while reconstructing parts of the dam. Fourteen miles down river, there it was again, in black nubby necklaces around rocks, in bands along the shore, in heaps on the river’s sandy bank. The U.S Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Electron Hydro on Wednesday for putting field turf in the riverbed of the Puyallup River while working on a construction project. He said he knew the spill would happen. Historically the river supported as many as 42,000 chinook. U.S. Justice Department sues over Puyallup River pollution The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owners of the Electron dam for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. On a visit to the river Thursday with The Seattle Times, Sylvia Miller, vice chairwoman of the Puyallup Tribal council, said she was sick at heart because of the spill. News > Pacific NW Rubber debris litters miles of Puyallup River after artificial turf was used in dam project without permit. “Millions of tiny rubber beads … all washed down the river and are polluting my lifelong fishing holes. PSE sold the dam to Electron in 2014, but still sells electricity from the project. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River. Chinook from the river are critical to endangered southern resident killer whales, which primarily feed on chinook. It is the forest. Rubber debris already is likely more than 40 miles downriver in Puget Sound. Facility Operational Puyallup's largest ever public works project, at a total cost of about $27 million, reached a milestone on April 27, 1999, when sewage was re-routed through the City's newly expanded Water Pollution Control Plant. The pile is at least one story high and as long as a football field. She was on hand to assist with fish sampling and counting. Intended lawsuit over Puyallup River artificial turf pollution grows. SEATTLE — The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owners of the Electron dam for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. A piece of the artificial turf in the Puyallup River. Share . Vote on expanded access is coming this week. Share . The Puyallup River is the second most polluted in the Puget Sound area and its salmon runs are being harmed, which in turn hurts orcas. Piles of old artificial turf are stored nearby the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River. “Electron is committed to providing clean energy and restoring Puyallup River fisheries,” Spens wrote, and the company will deal with the spill before continuing work on the dam, he added. The Justice Department is seeking $55,800 per day for each violation. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River. Lynda specializes in coverage of the environment, natural history, and Native American tribes. A A. Fish regularly are entrapped and killed at the dam, long a problem known to regulators. U.S. files lawsuit over pollution in Puyallup River Updated 2:52 pm CST, Thursday, November 26, 2020 ... LLC, which owns the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River. “It took around 45 minutes to free the individuals from the mud and during this time no fish recoveries took place as flows continued to drop, stranding more and more fish.”. Justice Department sues over pollution in Puyallup River. Puyallup tribe files federal suit against Electron Dam, citing pollution, fish kills. “The situation was becoming increasingly urgent to free the two, as they were sinking slowly by the minute,” she wrote. It hurts.”. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times), Sylvia Miller, vice chair of the Puyallup Tribal Council, said she is angry and heartbroken over pollution to the river from a project at the Electron Dam. The crumb rubber rapidly and widely dispersed into the river and has traveled at least 19 miles downstream, according to the suit. Thursday, November 26, 2020 3:13pm U.S. files lawsuit over pollution in Puyallup River. Thursday, November 26th 2020. 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