Crews cleaning local parks contaminated with arsenic, lead
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BURIEN, Wash. -- Clean-up crews are dealing with a serious health concern after finding arsenic and lead in several parks in King and Pierce Counties.
The contamination is a result of fallout from the Asarco copper smelter in Tacoma. The smelter stopped operations decades ago, but health officials are still dealing its aftermath.
State officials say dirt tainted with arsenic in Burien's Dottie Harper Park has to go. The bobcats digging up dirt doesn't make for an ideal park experience, but visitors know it's all for the best.
"Who wants arsenic and lead in their soil? I don't," said park visitor Mike Doolin.
The smelter came down years ago, but clean-up crews have spent the last seven years removing tainted dirt from school playgrounds, ball fields, daycare centers and parks.
Besides Dottie Harper, crews are also cleaning McMicken Heights and Sunset Playfields in SeaTac, as well as Federal Way's Lake Grove Park, Dockton on Vashon Island and Kiwanis and American Lake in Lakewood.
Crews are having to suck the dirt out at American Lake so they don't damage the roots of the trees. All the work is expected to last through October 14, and it's all being paid for using a huge settlement from Asarco.
"To see that the money is actually spent to directly help these parks, it's a good program for sure," said clean-up crew member Brett MacDonald.
Even though the parks are being dealt with right now, the playgrounds themselves are considered safe because they've already been cleaned.
State officials say there's no imminent danger to park goers, but there is concern about long-term direct exposure.
"When we dig in our garden, we use garden gloves. We're careful about it, and I think people with small children need to be careful about the soils in their backyards," said park visitor Pat Owen.
Despite all the work that's going on, large sections of the parks will remain open. This is just the latest round of clean up activities, and state officials say there will be similar projects for years to come.
The contamination is a result of fallout from the Asarco copper smelter in Tacoma. The smelter stopped operations decades ago, but health officials are still dealing its aftermath.
State officials say dirt tainted with arsenic in Burien's Dottie Harper Park has to go. The bobcats digging up dirt doesn't make for an ideal park experience, but visitors know it's all for the best.
"Who wants arsenic and lead in their soil? I don't," said park visitor Mike Doolin.
The smelter came down years ago, but clean-up crews have spent the last seven years removing tainted dirt from school playgrounds, ball fields, daycare centers and parks.
Besides Dottie Harper, crews are also cleaning McMicken Heights and Sunset Playfields in SeaTac, as well as Federal Way's Lake Grove Park, Dockton on Vashon Island and Kiwanis and American Lake in Lakewood.
Crews are having to suck the dirt out at American Lake so they don't damage the roots of the trees. All the work is expected to last through October 14, and it's all being paid for using a huge settlement from Asarco.
"To see that the money is actually spent to directly help these parks, it's a good program for sure," said clean-up crew member Brett MacDonald.
Even though the parks are being dealt with right now, the playgrounds themselves are considered safe because they've already been cleaned.
State officials say there's no imminent danger to park goers, but there is concern about long-term direct exposure.
"When we dig in our garden, we use garden gloves. We're careful about it, and I think people with small children need to be careful about the soils in their backyards," said park visitor Pat Owen.
Despite all the work that's going on, large sections of the parks will remain open. This is just the latest round of clean up activities, and state officials say there will be similar projects for years to come.
Now what about all the personal properties? If they are finding arsenic and lead in these parks, then it is potentially everywhere else too. Does the settlement from Asarco cover personal property too?
Why aren't the workers wearing protective gear?Â
 @newsie Orange vests and hard hats!  hahah