Washington Department of Ecology – *NEWS* Jan. 19, 2016 Contact: Chase Gallagher <chase.gallagher@ecy.wa.gov>, communications, 360-407-6239, @ECYSW <https://twitter.com/EcySW> *MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON OCCIDENTAL CLEANUP SITE IN TACOMA* TACOMA – As work progresses toward cleaning up contamination at the Occidental site <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/cleanupSites/Occidental/> near the Hylebos Waterway, the public is invited to share input at a Jan. 30 open house and public hearing hosted by the Washington Department of Ecology. Hazardous substances have been found in groundwater, soil and sediment at the Occidental site at 605 Alexander Ave. in Tacoma, which was used for industrial activities for decades and became contaminated with chlorine and chlorinated solvents, caustic soda, ammonia, calcium chloride and muriatic acid. Operations at the site stopped in 2002 and the remaining buildings were demolished. The open house and public hearing are for the public to discuss the draft contamination report, called the remedial investigation. That new draft study will be used in determining the extent of contamination at the Occidental site, and how best to move forward cleaning up the site. Children are welcome at the meeting. *Ecology Public Hearing and Open House* *Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016* *Open House: 9:30 a.m.* *Public hearing 10:30 a.m.* *Center at Norpoint (4818 Nassau Ave. NE, Tacoma)* The comment period began Oct. 23, 2015, and the public is invited to submit comments throughout the public comment period, which is being extended until Feb. 1, 2016. During the hearing the public can offer oral and written comments on the investigation report. Written comments are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 1, and can be sent to: *Kerry Graber* *Southwest Regional Office - **HWTR Program* *PO Box 47600* *Olympia, WA 98504-7600* *Kerry.Graber@ecy.wa.gov* <Kerry.Graber@ecy.wa.gov> ------------------------------ Visit us on the web <http://www.ecy.wa.gov> or social media <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/socialmedia.html>. Subscribe <http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=ECOLOGY-NEWS&A=1> or Unsubscribe <http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=ECOLOGY-NEWS&A=1> -- *Karen GoginsPartnerships and Communication ManagerCitizens for a Healthy Bay* 535 Dock Street, Suite 213 Tacoma, WA 98402 *T *253-383-2429 | *W *healthybay.org Connect with us: Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizens-for-a-Healthy-Bay/135400296725?ref=settings> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/chb_tacoma> | <https://instagram.com/citizensforahealthybay/>Instagram <https://instagram.com/citizensforahealthybay/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/3319786?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas%3Acitizens%20for%20a%20healthy%20b%2Cidx%3A1-1-1> | Subscribe to our enews <http://healthybay.org/index.php?option=com_jforms&view=form&id=3&Itemid=136>