Northern Light Corrected

Letters to The Editor: May 29-June 4, 2025

Posted 

The Editor:

I appreciate the local news coverage on Blaine city matters. I’m writing to correct an error published in your May 15 issue.

Grace McCarthy’s article on the downtown revitalization project referenced a memo prepared by Mike Harmon, explaining that the City of Blaine was contacted by the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) regarding environmental compliance measures it was required to take. This compliance measure was a result of a notice I sent to the DOE.

McCarthy stated that I had “voiced concern that there could be toxic plumes under Hill’s Chevron gas station … that could contaminate Cain Creek.” Harmon’s memo, entitled “Request for Council Action” (RFCA) stated that my notice contained “false allegations” and “disinformation,” but acting in an abundance of caution, DOE required the city to take “extraordinary” preventative measures to contain any potential toxins.

Correction: I did not voice concern that there “could be” toxic plumes, but rather “there is a toxic plume” adjacent to the Chevron gas station according to the city’s Hazmat study and the DOE’s hazardous waste site. Additionally, I disagree with Harmon’s characterization of my notice to the DOE as containing “false allegations” and “disinformation.”

My notice was grounded in evidence-based research, specifically referencing the Hazmat Memorandum prepared by GeoEngineers on November 28, 2023 for the City of Blaine. The DOE site identified the carcinogenic benzene plume had never been fully remediated. Public health was at risk, including the WSDOT construction crews working in the vicinity (Culvert Case). Consequently, this information was submitted for compliance actions by the DOE.

These actions are important for protecting and restoring Blaine’s water resources and are beneficial for the proposed Marine Education Center (MERIS), tourism and shellfish industry.

Geoffrey Baker

Blaine 

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