Boeing's Toxic Legacy In The Duwamish River

The Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington, has been polluted by Boeing, which has been identified as one of the major responsible parties for the contamination. Boeing's operations along the river, including the production of thousands of World War II airplanes, have resulted in the release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the waterway. The river is now among the nation's most contaminated sites, with health advisory signs warning the public about the risks of consuming fish from the river due to the presence of toxic chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The cleanup of the Duwamish River is estimated to cost Boeing and taxpayers up to $1 billion, and while Boeing has taken steps to restore the river, the ongoing pollution from its facilities continues to be a concern.

Boeing's 1950 magazine article acknowledged that any unrestrained liquid on its premises would reach the river

Boeing's first factory was located next to the Duwamish River, where it built seaplanes in the 1910s and the nation's first four-engine bomber in the 1930s. By the end of World War II, Boeing's plant had expanded to nearly 1.7 million square feet, making the company one of the largest landowners in the industrial district.

However, Boeing's operations have had a significant environmental impact on the Duwamish River. In a 1950 magazine article, Boeing acknowledged that any unrestrained liquid emptied on its premises would eventually reach the Duwamish River. The article described the river as "a natural collector for Boeing's fluid wastes" and asserted that some volatile wastes would be neutralized by chemicals released by other polluters.

The company's acknowledgment in the 1950 article highlights its awareness of the potential environmental impact of its operations. Despite this awareness, the Duwamish River is now considered one of the nation's most contaminated waterways. Contaminants such as PCBs, zinc, metals, and petroleum have been found in the river, leading to health warnings about eating fish from the river and even direct contact with the river mud.

Today, efforts are being made to clean up the Duwamish River and hold responsible parties accountable. Boeing is actively involved in these cleanup initiatives, and in 2015, early actions reduced site-wide PCB levels by half. The company is also working with the City of Seattle and King County as part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) to implement a multi-year cleanup of the entire waterway.

While Boeing's recent efforts to address the pollution in the Duwamish River are commendable, the company's historical acknowledgment in the 1950 magazine article underscores the long-standing nature of this environmental issue.

The Duwamish River is one of the nation's most contaminated waterways

The river has been designated as a Superfund site, which means it is one of the most polluted sites in the country and is eligible for federal funding for clean-up efforts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been working with Boeing and other local governments to address the pollution. Boeing has taken some steps to clean up the river, including demolishing its Plant 2 facility in 2011 and removing contaminated sediment from the riverbed. However, environmental groups have also filed lawsuits against Boeing, alleging that one of its facilities is sending polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the river at levels far beyond the legal limit.

PCBs are toxic chemicals that were used in things like paint, caulk, and electrical equipment. They were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the 1970s, but they continue to ooze into the Duwamish River from Boeing's facilities and other sources. The high levels of PCBs in the river have led to health advisories warning the public not to eat bottom-feeding fish and to limit the consumption of certain salmon. Tribal fishing continues along the river, despite the health risks.

The cleanup of the Duwamish River is expected to cost Boeing and taxpayers up to $1 billion. The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group, which includes Boeing and local governments, has already spent millions of dollars on studies and early cleanups of the most polluted areas. The group is currently negotiating how to split the cost of the full-scale cleanup, which is scheduled to begin soon. While there have been some challenges and setbacks, there is hope that the river can be restored to a state that the community and the environment can benefit from.

Boeing is one of the major contributors of PCBs to the river

Boeing has been identified as one of the major contributors of PCBs to the Duwamish River. The company set up its first factory by the river in 1916, and by the end of World War II, its plant had expanded to nearly 1.7 million square feet. Boeing's operations included building thousands of seaplanes and bombers, and the company has been accused of dumping toxic chemicals into the river.

In 1950, Boeing published an article in its employee magazine acknowledging that "any unrestrained liquid emptied on the Boeing premises is bound [sooner or later] to get into the Duwamish." Despite claiming to have a handle on the situation, the company admitted that some of its volatile waste would be neutralized by chemicals released by other polluters. This admission indicates that Boeing was aware of the potential environmental impact of its operations and that it considered the river a convenient disposal site for its liquid waste.

Decades later, the toxic effects of these chemicals, known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), continue to be felt. PCBs were used in various industrial applications, including paint, caulk, and electrical equipment. Due to their persistence in the environment, PCBs have contaminated the Duwamish River and accumulated in the food chain, leading to health warnings about consuming fish from the river.

Environmental groups have specifically called out Boeing's Military Delivery Center in Tukwila, where the company finishes jets before handing them off to the Pentagon. Measurements of stormwater runoff from this facility have shown levels of PCBs that are thousands of times above the legal limit. As a result, Boeing has been ordered to improve its stormwater treatment processes.

Boeing has since taken steps to address its contribution to the pollution of the Duwamish River. In 2011, the company demolished its Plant 2 facility, which was one of the most contaminated sites along the river, and began habitat restoration efforts. Boeing has also participated in the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group, collaborating with local governments on studies and early cleanups of highly polluted areas. The company estimates it has spent over $150 million on cleanup efforts, including removing contaminated sediment and restoring natural habitats.

The river is loaded with carcinogenic PCBs and other pollutants

The Duwamish River is one of the most contaminated waterways in the United States. It has been heavily polluted over the years, with Boeing being identified as one of the major contributors to this pollution. The river is loaded with carcinogenic PCBs and other pollutants, some dumped directly by industries, including Boeing, and some arriving via rainwater runoff.

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that were used in things like paint, caulk, and electrical equipment. They were not banned until the 1970s, and their toxic and persistent nature was not fully understood at the time. Boeing has been identified as one of the parties responsible for the presence of PCBs in the Duwamish River. In 1950, the company acknowledged that any liquids emptied on its premises would eventually make their way into the river, and while they asserted that some of these liquids would be neutralized by other chemicals, they also described the river as a ""natural collector" for their fluid wastes.

The pollution in the Duwamish River has had a significant impact on the environment and public health. There are now health advisory signs along the river, warning people not to eat bottom-feeding fish and to limit their consumption of certain salmon due to the risk of cancer and other diseases. Crabbing and most fishing are prohibited in the river, and even direct contact with the river mud is considered a risk.

Efforts have been made to clean up the river and restore the habitat. Boeing has taken a leading role in these efforts, demolishing its Plant 2 facility in 2011 and removing contaminated sediment from nearly a mile of the riverfront. The company has also been working with the City of Seattle, King County, and other local governments as part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group to implement a multi-year cleanup of the entire waterway. Despite these efforts, the river remains severely polluted, and the cleanup process is expected to cost Boeing and taxpayers up to $1 billion.

Boeing is taking the lead in cleaning up the river

Boeing, one of the major contributors to the pollution of Seattle's Duwamish River, is now taking the lead in cleaning up the river. The river is one of the most contaminated in the nation, and a full-scale cleanup is long overdue. Boeing, along with the City of Seattle and King County, is part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), which is working to implement a multi-year cleanup of the entire waterway.

In 2011, Boeing demolished its Plant 2 facility on the Lower Duwamish, clearing the way for the largest cleanup and habitat restoration on the river so far. Boeing has since removed the equivalent of 4,000 railcars of contaminated sediment from nearly 1 mile of riverfront. The company has also helped to restore nearly 1 mile of the river into a wetland resource, improving Puget Sound salmon runs. More than 170,000 native plants now occupy 5 acres along the water's edge.

Boeing's efforts have been recognised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Restoration Center, which presented the company with an "excellence in restoration" award for completing the largest single restoration project on the Duwamish River. The project has restored 5 acres of marsh and riparian habitat, providing a valuable refuge for juvenile salmon and steelhead, and helping to meet recovery goals for endangered species.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Environmental groups have raised concerns about ongoing pollution from a Boeing facility in Tukwila, which is sending polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the river at levels well above the legal limit. Boeing has disputed these claims, stating that the pollution is minimal and decreasing. Nonetheless, the company has been ordered by the Washington Department of Ecology to improve its stormwater treatment.

Overall, while Boeing's past actions have contributed significantly to the pollution of the Duwamish River, the company is now taking a leading role in cleaning up and restoring the river. Their efforts have been praised by environmentalists and government agencies alike, and they are setting a high bar for other companies and landowners in the area.

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