DIOXIN ADVOCACY

Humboldt Baykeeper continues to watchdog projects and proposals around the Bay to bring contamination issues to the forefront and ensure that dioxin review is integrated into all project approvals and planning processes. This advocacy work prevents backsliding on the strides we have made to develop broad-based awareness and understanding of the contamination issues that impact Humboldt Bay. 

Over the past year Humboldt Baykeeper has advocated for dioxin analysis in all projects that involve the disturbance of Humboldt Bay sediments.  Despite the fact that in 2006 we successfully petitioned the State Water Resources Control Board to list Humboldt Bay as Impaired by dioxin on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list, project proponents continue to hope that they will be able to slip their projects through without the necessary analysis.  Humboldt Baykeeper regularly rejects this perspective. 

Humboldt Baykeeper recently convinced the Harbor District to require dioxin analysis and appropriate disposal for excavated sediments at a metal salvage yard located on Humboldt Bay (G&R Metals).  Historical activities on the property included metals reclamation from transformers, automobile dismantling and wrecking, storage of batteries, radiators, etc.  These uses resulted in contamination of both an upland and a tidal portion of the property with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), metals, and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Humboldt Baykeeper was aware of sampling in the tidal mud flat portion of the property that showed elevated levels of dioxin, and was also able to use this information to convince the District to require additional sampling for dioxin.

Humboldt Baykeeper will continue to watchdog Bay-related development proposals in the year ahead.  Despite the fact that the sediments of Humboldt Bay are contaminated with various chemicals, including dioxin, there is an ongoing need for the dredging of Bay sediments for economic activities associated with fishing and aquaculture.  We will continue to work to ensure that our community and our environment are protected from the legacies of past industrial activities on and around Humboldt Bay.  As we move into 2012, Humboldt Baykeeper is working with local agencies to help develop an acceptable plan for the beneficial reuse of the dredged materials for wetlands restoration work while prohibiting environmental exposure to dioxin.