Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Community Coalition for Environmental Justice • The Duwamish Tribe• Georgetown Community Council • IM-A-PAL • ECOSS • People for Puget Sound • Puget Soundkeeper Alliance • South Park Neighborhood Association • Washington Toxics Coalition • Waste Action Project The Honorable Kurt Triplett King County Executive King County Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Suite 800 Seattle, WW 98104 September 15, 2009 Dear Executive Triplett, The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC) is EPA’s Community Advisory Group for the Duwamish River Superfund Site. DRCC represents ten organizations affected by the health of the Duwamish River and plans for the river cleanup, including the South Park Neighborhood Association, the South Park-based Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) and IM- A-PAL Foundation, the Georgetown Community Council, the Duwamish Tribe and five regional environmental, social justice and health advocacy organizations. DRCC’s members and partners hold the State of Washington Public Participation Grant for the Duwamish River Superfund Cleanup and EPA’s Technical Assistance Grant for the site, which provides funding for technical experts for the community. The DRCC is writing in support of King County’s efforts to fund the replacement of the South Park Bridge. We support the County’s application to the national economic stimulus TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program. The South Park Bridge is a vital component of the transportation system and will provide important access for cleanup operations of the Duwamish River Superfund Site. The Bridge is 78 years old, and in poor condition; it cannot be retrofitted due to unstable piers that are cracked and tilting. We understand that there is a possibility that King County may need to shut down the bridge in 2010 due to safety issues. The cleanup of PCB’s and dioxins in Terminal 117 (T-117) and surrounding neighborhoods in South Park and the habitat restoration in 2010 will certainly rely upon the South Park Bridge for construction traffic. If the bridge closes, 20,000 vehicles per day would need to use other river crossings. This would likely resulting increased traffic congestion throughout the region, and additional delays elsewhere, including on First Avenue South and added traffic from T-117 cleanup and construction. Planned construction related to the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, in particular relating to the planned South Portal exit for a bored tunnel, could further increase delays in addition to impacting the T-117 cleanup. 1620 – 18th Avenue, Suite #10 Seattle, WA 98122 • 206.954.0218. • [email protected] • www.duwamishcleanup.org 2 It is our understanding that in King County’s TIGER grant application, King County will pledge to fully fund the completion of the South Park Bridge. The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition offers our support for King County’s application. Sincerely, Thea Levkovitz Coordinator Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition 5410 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 • 206.954-0218 • [email protected] • www.duwamishcleanup.org .