On February 25, the Whatcom County Council will vote to decide if $180,000 should be spent on hiring a consultant to find storage space for hazardous sediment. The sediment, which is to be removed from Swift Creek because of its potential harmfulness to the area’s farming soil, contains naturally occurring asbestos that originates at Sumas Mountain and reaches the creek by way of a landslide. Asbestos, which was once a popular material in the manufacturing and construction sectors, has been banned for widespread use since the ’70s. The inhalation of its fibers leads to severe respiratory problems, including mesothelioma.
Roland Middleton, the special projects manager for Whatcom County, felt that the concentration of asbestos shouldn’t alarm the public. “The amount that actually gets into the system is very small compared to the overall composition of the sediment,” he said. “So while it is certainly below any kind of detectable levels, or levels of great concern, it’s still happening—and it will only benefit anyone downstream to manage this sediment.”
The upcoming vote isn’t the first time the council has attempted to address the problem. A planning document from 2012 proposed traps in the steeper reaches and basins in lower sections to help capture large quantities of the hazardous sediment. Another concern posed by the landslide is the possibility of a flood, which will hopefully also be addressed by the plan.
“Though people haven’t heard anything for a while, it’s not like we’re not working like crazy to get something done,” said Middleton of the slow progress. “I’m hopeful that through this year we have some successes, so we’re able to get things done on the ground rather than on paper on a shelf.”