SEATTLE - Back in 2004, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance helped spark a stormwater runoff revolution with its study of rainwater pouring off the SR 520 bridge into Lake Washington.
It found elevated levels of copper, zinc, lead and other chemicals that can harm or kill fish, birds and other marine life.
Since then, stormwater runoff has been identified as the biggest single threat to the health of Puget Sound.
So when the State Department of Ecology issued a runoff permit to the State Department of a Transportation, Soundkeeper analysts took a look. They concluded it was watered down, and filed suit.
"The highway system pours toxic contaminants into our rivers, streams and Puget Sound," said Jan Hasselman, an attorney for Earthjustice who represented Puget Soundkeeper Alliance in the case.
He said the state manages 7,000 miles of roads and most were not designed with stormwater runoff protection.
"They're very often built along stream corridors or downhill basins where water drains off," said Kate Pflaumer of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.
The case was to be argued before the State Pollution Control Hearings Board in April, but today the groups announced they made a deal.
The State Departments of Ecology and Transportation agreed to include planning and funding to improve runoff on the existing network of roadways each time it plans for new road projects. The costs have yet to be determined, but state Transportation officials tell KING 5 they anticipate no problems meeting the new rules. They say the department was heading in that direction anyway and offered examples of those projects on the following Web site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Archive/2009Q3.htm.
To add a comment, please register or login.