Date of incident: Chronic releases of hazardous substances beginning in the 1970s through the 1980s.
Location: The lower Duwamish River, Elliott Bay, Washington.
Trustees:
Case status: There have been two settlements:
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With the city of Seattle and (Metro) King County in 1990 and 1991, amended in
1999.
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With Pacific Sound Resources in 1994.
Overview: Elliott Bay is a 21-square kilometer urban embayment in central Puget Sound, and extends from West Point south to Alki Point and encompasses the waterfront of downtown Seattle. The major commercial district of Seattle is located on the southeastern shore of the Bay. The inner bay receives fresh water from the Duwamish River and most of the stormwater runoff from 67 square kilometers of highly developed land in metropolitan Seattle. The lower Duwamish River is a salt-wedge estuary, influenced by tidal inundation over a 16 kilometer downstream reach. Near its mouth, the river is divided by Harbor Island into the East and West Waterways, which are approximately 160 meters wide.
