ACT: Keep Toxic Pollution Out of the Columbia

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) wants your input on a proposed cleanup plan for the Millennium coal terminal site—the former Reynolds Aluminum Smelter.

Comment period: Act now - September 14, 2018

You can help decide the future of a toxic cleanup site.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) wants your input on a proposed cleanup plan for the Millennium coal terminal site—the former Reynolds Aluminum Smelter. This site has serious pollution problems: fluoride, cyanide, and petroleum hydrocarbons in the groundwater and soils. Millennium—backers of the proposed coal export terminal—and Alcoa are financially responsible for cleanup. You can hold them accountable.

Tell Ecology you support thorough cleanup to protect the Columbia River.

Thanks to leadership from the Yakama Nation and hundreds of public comments, Ecology made important changes to a 2016 draft cleanup plan. Now, we need your help to ensure Ecology adopts a final cleanup plan that:

  • includes pollution limits and monitoring to protect salmon and other aquatic life; and
  • 
confirms site redevelopment does not undermine cleanup.

Kids on the Columbia River, photo by Lauren Goldberg
Kids on the Columbia River, photo by Lauren Goldberg.

What does summer on the Columbia mean to you?
As a parent of two young kids, we’re in staycation mode. No big travel plans (read: I can only handle so much whining and crying). Lots of hanging out at Columbia River beaches. My girls swim, make sandcastles, and fish—if you count trying to catch fish in your hands. When you submit a public comment to Ecology, share your thoughts on why clean water matters.