RES 90-24 POLLUTION IN EAGLE HARBORRESOLUTION N0. 90-24
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WINSLOW, WASHINGTON,
REGARDING THE POLLUTION PRESENT IN EAGLE HARBOR
WHEREAS, one of the most basic duties of government
is to protect the public health; and
WHEREAS, Eagle Harbor has been designated by the
Environmental Protection Agency as a Superfund Site; and
WHEREAS, the north half of eagle Harbor lies within
the boundaries of the City of Winslow; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency recently
conducted studies of fin-fish in Eagle Harbor and of nine
seaperch caught all contained methyl mercury, a toxic
compound; and
WHEREAS, two of the nine fish contained
concentrations of methyl mercury in excess of the Food and
Drug Administration's action level; and
WHEREAS, mercury has also been found in the bottom
sediments along the north shore of Eagle Harbor, including
directly off shore of the city's Waterfront Park; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency has
found polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the bottom
sediments along the north shore of Eagle Harbor, including
the intertidal (beach) zones off the city's Waterfront Park;
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency has not
evaluated the risks to the public of these polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons due to a lack of dermal exposure
standards to these particular compounds; and
WHEREAS, citizens of Winslow and the public
frequently use these north shore intertidal beaches for
wading, swimming, and shellfish gathering; and
WHEREAS, the City of Winslow has had a member of the
City Council in attendance at the Environmental Protection
Agency Technical discussion Group meetings at which these
issues have been explained; and
WHEREAS, as prudent elected officials the City
Council would rather be safe than sorry; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WINSLOW, WASHINGTON,
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of
Winslow feels obligated to warn its citizens of these
potential hazards.
Section 2. That the City Council requests both state
and county public health officials to conduct further fin-
fish tissue analyses of those species normally caught by
recreational and commercial fishermen in Eagle Harbor.
Section 3. That the City Council requests state and
county public health officials to do further research as to
the toxicity of both the mercury and polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbon contamnents found in the north shore sediments
in order to determine the degree of hazard to the public from
dermal exposure to these sediments.
Section 4. That the City Council requests the
appropriate public health officials to immediately issue
advisory notices of possible health hazards and to post
advisory signs at all access points along the north shore
including the Waterfront Park, marinas and beach areas.
These .advisory measures should warn against eating both fin-
fish and shellfish from Eagle Harbor, and recommend avoiding
skin contact with contaminated sediments pending more
definitive research findings.
Section 5. The City Council requests public health
agencies to notify state commercial fishing licensing
agencies that an advisory exists in eagle Harbor pertaining
to fin-fish and shellfish.
PASSED by the City Council this 7.~,z .day of
June 1990.
1990.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 7th day of ,Tin' ,
SAM J GRANATO, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
7
.9
DONNA JE BUXTON,Clerk/, reasurer
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: June 1, 1990
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: June 7, 1990
RESOLUTION N0. 90-24