By SCOTT RASMUSSEN
County reporter
Befuddled about what to do with that stockpile of toxic chemicals? Or how to prevent stormwater from swamping your neighbors’ property, or your own? Well, fret no more, help is on its way.
The state Department of Ecology will pay up to $196,250 over the next two years to help San Juan County better manage the disposal of routine trash and hazardous waste, as well as stormwater runoff, through providing education and assistance to island-based small businesses. As part of a two-year contract, endorsed Jan. 15 by the County Council, Ecology will cover the cost of hiring a toxic trash specialist to offer education, advice and technical assistance to small businesses about effective steps to reducing or eliminating potential sources of pollution.
The newly-created post, known as a Local Source Control Specialist, will reside within the ranks of the Community Development and Planning Department for its duration. CDPD Director Ron Henrickson said that bringing the specialist on board will help Ecology further its mission of reducing the amount of pollution draining into Puget Sound. It should also, he said, boost the odds that whatever changes are made to the county’s critical areas ordinance, a state-mandated update that’s currently underway, will be approved by the state.
Henrickson said on-site evaluations will be made by the control specialist in conjunction with the annual inspection of businesses by the county fire marshal.
In response to questions by the council, Henrickson said hurdles have been set high in what counties are expected to do in protecting critical areas, such as wetlands, shorelines, rivers and streams, from pollution. Inspections of potential pollution sources will be needed and monitoring programs put in place in those areas where local regulations fall short of the state’s expectations, he said.
“It’s very clear that in order to succeed with that order that the county needs to have some program and follow up with those inspections,” Henrickson said. “We saw the grant as an excellent opportunity to piggy-back our own needs with Ecology’s.”
San Juan is among 12 Puget Sound region counties selected for state funding through Ecology’s so-called Local Source Control Program. The region, according to Ecology, is home to thousands of small businesses and has the highest concentration of hazardous waste generators — nearly 70 percent — statewide.
Though endorsed by the council without dissent, the contract raised some initial concern. Councilman Rich Peterson, North San Juan, questioned whether it hands over authority to the control specialist or CDPD in developing local “policies” for prevention of stormwater runoff. He noted such policy decisions have yet to be resolved by the council after voters rejected the funding mechanism of the county stormwater utility in November.
Henrickson said duties of the control specialist are geared toward education and short on regulatory ability. He said enforcement would only be needed in instances where the amount of pollution encountered is “egregious”. Furthermore, he said, that the DOE program includes incentives by rewarding businesses that reduce their impact on the environment by handing out certificates and through public recognition.
“It’s not just about regulation, but about recognition of those businesses that are doing well,” he said.
