Opinion Editorials

Local view: Plan to empty clean-up fund ill-advised

BY NANCY BAKER AND BRUCE WISEMAN

In 1988, the people of Washington state voted to set aside money in a special fund to pay for tough toxic clean-ups. Since then, hundreds of contaminated sites around the state have been cleaned. And hundreds more remain. But Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget proposes to deplete the entire $75 million in the account and transfer the monies into the general fund.

We strongly believe such an action would damage our environment, our economy, and shows a clear disregard of the will of the people.

Twenty years ago, voters passed Initiative 97, which created a dedicated fund called the Model Toxic Control Account (MTCA) to help local governments pay for expensive clean-up efforts of contaminated sites around the state. The passage was a rare instance in which voters state-wide overwhelmingly supported taxing themselves and the only time voters passed a levy that included a funding source. Washingtonians firmly stand behind keeping our state green.

The program has been tremendously successful in cleaning up toxic sites and returning the land to use. But Gov. Gregoire’s proposal to emptyg the clean-up account into the state’s general fund is ill-conceived and threatens thousands of environmental projects. For example, in Vancouver, the Fruit Valley groundwater cleanup has been a beneficiary of this account, and because of that, we can see a massive source of clean drinking water for our community in the near future. The funding has given the port the opportunity to return 55 acres of previously contaminated land to safe and productive use.

At the Port of Ridgefield, the account is being used to clean up the Lake River industrial site where a wood treatment plant went bankrupt after 30 years in operation, leaving the site contaminated by creosote and other chemicals. The cleanup, started in 1995, is entering its final stages which include redevelopment of the site into a vibrant mixed use waterfront area that will include moorage, office space, retail and green spaces. When completed, the site will create jobs, increase the local tax base and stabilize the local economy, so funding to complete the project is more critical now than ever before.

Boost for development

Most clean-ups occur in under-utilized or abandoned industrial areas that, once cleaned, allow these areas to be redeveloped and support local economic development and job creation opportunities. The people of Washington routinely support the environmental clean-up projects throughout our state to restore our land and water quality. We cannot afford to eliminate MTCA funding because it will hurt our ability to preserve and protect human health and the environment.

Many cash-strapped communities rely on this funding to help pay for these expensive and urgently needed clean-ups. Many unemployed citizens are relying on the governor’s own stated goal of increasing green collar jobs to 25,000 to get them back to work. Robbing our state of the money for environmental clean-ups would mean robbing our citizens of those promised jobs in our county and throughout our state at a time when unemployment rates are soaring.

To take this money away not only ignores the will of the voters, but also means that hundreds of projects in the pipeline would be delayed. Delays only further threaten our environment, allow problems to grow and therefore cost taxpayers even more money in the long term.

The raid on this environmental clean-up account is short-sighted, and we urge the Legislature to fully fund the account and to use it for its intended purpose: local toxic cleanup projects. In doing so, our legislators will continue MTCA’s legacy of job creation, long-term economic development and environmental stewardship that stand as a hallmark of Washington state.

Nancy Baker is a Port of Vancouverc ommissioner; Bruce Wiseman is a Port of Ridgefield commissioner