A park with a view...
Gas Works Park, which commands one of the best views of downtown Seattle across the rippling waters of Lake Union, is home to tons of coal tar and benzene under a two-foot layer of soil. This blight did not escape the creators of Gas Works Park, however. Measures were taken from the beginning to keep park visitors from being contaminated by seepage through the ground, and it was thought in 1975 that a natural attenuation would result in the eventual disappearance of benzene gasses.
Peter Isaksen, Environmental Health Specialist for King Co. Environmental Health Dept., says his agency assesses hazardous sites, but does not have the law behind it to force the cleanup of toxic sites--only the state does.
"We at the health Dept. are not concerned," he says. "Gas Works Park is not a health issue since (the tar) is covered up. If the Dept. of Ecology wasn't doing the cleanup, or if levels could be injurious to the public, then we will get involved. We encourage others to clean up--we let them do their job."
Next: That job belongs to the Washington State Dept. of Ecology.Previous Page