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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 208
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
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Dept. of Natural Resources, Point Ruston reach agreement on ASARCO site cleanup Posted online Thurs., Oct. 18 Image Courtesy Point Ruston The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Point Ruston, LLC (Point Ruston) finalized an agreement to complete the cleanup and remediation of more than 18 acres of state-owned aquatic lands contaminated by nearly 100 years of industrial operations at the former American Smelting and Refining Company (Asarco) site, according to a statement released Thursday. Point Ruston is undertaking the redevelopment of this 97-acre site (pictured), which is currently one of the state's largest development projects with nearly 1-million square feet of commercial and retail space and 1,200 residential units being developed on this nearly one-mile-long waterfront property. Over the last four years, DNR and Point Ruston engaged in various aspects of the cleanup of the aquatic lands at this site, which is situated along Commencement Bay at the southern end of Puget Sound. Since 2007, Point Ruston has completed nearly $7.5 million in environmental cleanup of the state aquatic lands, capping more than 10.5 acres of Puget Sound sediments and armoring nearly one mile of shoreline. This latest agreement will result in the capping of the remaining nine acres of state-owned aquatic lands at this site. "This is the final cleanup to restore our aquatic lands and bring the toxic legacy of this superfund site to an end," said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. "This is a great step forward for the Point Ruston development and cleanup of this site. This settlement takes another step in cleaning up Puget Sound and creating jobs at a time when we need them the most," said State Senator Derek Kilmer, who was
the lead author of the jobs bill that included state funding for the cleanup. Point Ruston is currently constructing its public Waterwalk esplanade and Peninsula Park in conjunction with DNR, the City of Tacoma, and Metro Parks District of Tacoma. Once work on the sediment capping project is completed, the Waterwalk and Peninsula Park will provide more than one mile -- and 22 acres -- of additional public waterfront linkage along Ruston Way to the 702-acre Point Defiance Park. "When we purchased this property in 2006, we took on the daunting task of bringing all of the stakeholders to the table and allocating the costs of this cleanup to the responsible parties," said Mike Cohen, Managing Partner of the development company behind the Point Ruston project. "Usually a settlement process like this is litigious and unfriendly. However, Commissioner Goldmark stepped up and led the settlement negotiations to a successful conclusion. Put simply, the cleanup, the jobs that will be created, and the public access to one of the most spectacular views of Puget Sound would not be possible without him‌ it was his leadership that made it happen." Congressman Norm Dicks, a longtime supporter of the Point Ruston development and related cleanup, added, "Today's agreement represents another step forward in our effort to clean up and restore Puget Sound for future generations. I want to congratulate Commissioner Peter Goldmark, State Senator Derek Kilmer, and Point Ruston's Managing Partner, Mike Cohen, for their unique public-private collaboration that creates jobs while improving the health of Commencement Bay."
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Tacoma's container volumes jump nearly 40 percent in September Posted online Thurs., Oct. 18 Photo Courtesy Port of Tacoma Container volumes through the Port of Tacoma continued to climb in September, posting a 37 percent gain over the same month last year, Port officials announced. Port terminals handled 195,718 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) last month compared to 142,920 in September 2011. For the year, container volumes are up more than 11 percent to 1,220,615 TEUs. Tacoma's container volumes continue to reflect the addition of the Grand Alliance and its associated services in July, as well as strong volumes from established customers. The Port saw 113 vessel calls in September, an increase of nearly 32 percent compared with the same month last year, according to Port officials. With peak shipping season well under way, import container volumes surged nearly 22 percent year to date as retailers stock up for the holiday shopping season. The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday sales will increase 4.1 percent this year. A record Washington apple crop is contributing to Tacoma's increased export container volumes, which grew 14 percent year to date. Meanwhile, domestic volumes were down less than one percent for the year. In other cargo news, breakbulk volumes remain strong, up nearly 84 percent, and intermodal lifts grew more than 28 percent year to date. Logs continue to lag, down 41 percent, and autos dipped for the second straight month, down four percent. See all Port of Tacoma cargo stats online at portoftacoma.com/Page.aspx?nid=155.