UPDATE: Work To Replace Contaminated Soil At Two Parks Could Begin In Fall

UPDATE: Amy Hargrove, Soil Safety Program Coordinator with the state Department of Ecology, said tonight that work at the two contaminated parks could begin by fall.

Hargrove, who spoke to the City Council, said the amount of time it will take to replace the soil depends on a number of factors, but it could take about a month.

Glenn Rollins, environmental health specialist with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, said although contaminated soil at the Curran Apple Orchard will remain, it will not affect whether the fruit is safe to eat.

The reason, he said, trees don't consume any arsenic or lead, so any contamination stays in the soil. The department still suggests washing fruit before eating it.

"It's not found inside our fruits, which is a good thing and easily fixable," he said.

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University Place staff is recommending removing and replacing a foot of soil that was contaminated by the Asarco Smelter site at two of its park play areas.

Tests from 2010 show arsenic levels that were above the state standard at three venues: , and .

Officials also found arsenic contamination at Morrison, and parks, but they were outside the play areas and aren’t a priority at this time.

In a memorandum that Public Works & Parks Director Gary Cooper will present to the University Place City Council tonight, the remediation and cleanup costs of parks and playgrounds within a 200-square-mile radius of the Tacoma smelter site will be covered as part of the $3.9 million approved by the state Legislature, which is part of the Asarco settlement in 2009.

Here are the recommendations for the city:

-At all city parks, install signs that advise visitors of the soil contamination, and that they should wash their hands after playing in the park and before eating, wiping shoes after visiting the park and other actions.

-At Curran Apple Orchard, remove and replace one foot of soil in the amphitheater area. The soil in the tree areas can't be removed as there would be no way to preserve the trees. Staff recommends installing signage that advises visitors to wash fruit before they eat it.

-At Sunset Terrace, remove a foot of soil , expect for the infield and play chip areas, as both were imported after the smelter closed.

-At the Colegate Park play area, “remediation will be more difficult due to heavy tree cover,” Cooper wrote.  Staff recommends signage and adding bark or play chips to the area frequented by children.

Patch will have more on this story after tonight’s meeting.