Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

The Olympic Environmental Council (OEC) and Tyler Ahlgren, with 30 years experience working on sewage and storm water management system designs, have appealed the City of Port Angeles Planning Commission shoreline conditional use permit (SCUP) and the City’s determination of non significance (DNS) for a “pipe and treat” sewage-storm water collection system along the Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline to minimize combined sewer overflows (CSO). The City was formally informed of the appeal on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

The SCUP approved at the January 12th Port Angeles Planning Commission meeting allows the construction of pipes from downtown to the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) and the newly acquired 4.8 million gallon tank, located on the former Rayonier Mill site. These facilities are designed to hold peak system flows during heavy rain periods, to prevent most sewage overflows into public waters.

The appellants, who were present and provided testimony during the Planning Commission hearing, believe the Commissioners were not provided accurate information about the project, it’s goals and impacts. During the deliberations, the Commissioners themselves complained of the complexity of what they were told, complained that the project was being presented ” ..in bits and bites,” and by their questions and comments, made it clear they did not understand what they were voting on.

“We agree that the overflow problem is serious, ” said Darlene Schanfald, representing the OEC. “However, we are disappointed and chagrined that the City and the WA State Department of Ecology have agreed to spend taxpayer dollars to fund a 19th-early 20th century approach and build it in a designated flood-tsunami zone.”

The City of Port Angeles has termed their pipe and treat approach “fastest, cheapest.” However, the nearly $50M project is not being built as the “best, safest, and long term” system. It’s not credible environmentally or economically.

The City recognizes the overflow problem is because storm water is getting into the sewage collection system, mostly due to “Inflow and Infiltration” (I&I), seepage into sewer pipes through holes, cracks, joint failures, and faulty connections. Virtually every city experiences this problem, and most have ongoing budgeted programs to fix the leaks.

Port Angeles has been required by the WA State Department of Ecology through its NPDES permit to identify and fix all sources of I&I. The appellants believe Port Angeles has not complied with these existing permit requirements, resulting in the current CSO issues.

“The City can solve these overflow problems without the huge, budget busting project it currently is pursuing,” said Tyler Ahlgren. “The I&I sources need to be identified, prioritized for inflow volumes, and fixed. This would save big money.”

“The City should hire staff to permanently fix the problem and not create a scenario that will allow continued overflows,” said Schanfald, noting that the current City project anticipates continuing overflows. “Closure of the downtown trail would then not be necessary. And overflows would cease, as would alerts to stop fishing, swimming and other recreation.”

Ahlgren added, “The solution is simple. Stop the stormwater from getting into the sewage lines and there will be no more waste water overflows into the Strait. No one disputes this.”

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Filed under: Port Angeles | Tagged: Clallam County, Port Angeles |