The WA Department of Ecology’s air monitoring studies completed in Northport from 1992-1998 showed extremely elevated levels of arsenic (200 times higher than the national standard), and cadmium.
Below is a Summary of Ecology’s Northport Air Quality Studies, Phases I – IV, (1992-1998).
Reference the agency acronyms and safety level to understand results:
Ecology / EPA Acronyms & Levels
Screening Acronyms used by Ecology and EPA in testing certain heavy metal toxins:
Acceptable Source Impact Level (ASIL):
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- Toxins must be found at or below the ASIL set by the EPA based on Standard ambient air background levels throughout the State.
- Arsenic ASIL: .00023 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3)
- Cadmium ASIL: .00056 ug/m3
Risk Based Specific Concentration Level (RSC):
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- Toxins found at or above the RSC set by the EPA are considered high enough to pose as a risk to the environment and human health.
- Arsenic RSC: 0.0023 ug/m3
- Cadmium RSC: 0.1164 ug/m3
Ecology’s Phases I – IV Air Monitoring Results
PHASE I RESULTS:
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- Dec. 15, 1992 – Feb. 13, 1993
- Five air monitors installed
- 100 samples of particulate matter (PM) collected and analyzed for lead, arsenic, and particulate matter.
- Maximum arsenic level detected: .25 ug/m3
- Arsenic exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC levels
- Cadmium is as not monitored in Phase I monitoring
PHASE II RESULTS:
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- Aug. 10, 1993 – Oct. 30, 1993
- Seven air monitors installed
- The particulate filters were scanned for 30 toxic metals, cadmium, zinc, antimony, lead, copper, arsenic, and manganese.
- Computer Modeling conducted to better “understand the probable sources of pollutants…”
- Maximum arsenic level detected: 0.1164 ug/m3
- Arsenic exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC
- Maximum cadmium level detected: .0474 ug/m3
- Cadmium exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC levels
Computer Modeling
The results of the computer modeling done in Phase II confirmed “…the monitoring data results in predicting that winds and pollutants from the (Teck) smelter can easily travel down the Columbia River Valley to produce moderately high pollutant concentrations in the study area.“
PHASE III RESULTS:
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- Nov. 3, 1993 – Aug. 6, 1994
- One monitoring site – located 3 miles NE of Northport on “Paparich”
- Metals evaluated – lead, arsenic, cadmium
- Arsenic maximum yearly average: .12 ug/m3
- Arsenic exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC levels in phase III
- Cadmium maximum yearly average: .04 ug/m3
- Cadmium exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC levels in phase III
PHASE IV RESULTS:
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- Sept. 5, 1997 – Dec. 31, 1998
- Three monitoring sites in Northport
- Metals evaluated – arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc
- Arsenic maximum yearly average: .02 ug/m3
- Arsenic exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC Levels in phase IV
- Cadmium maximum yearly average: .01 ug/m3
- Cadmium exceeded EPA’s ASIL and RSC Levels in phase IV
Conclusion
Between 1992 and 1998, Ecology conducted four air monitoring studies that consistently found arsenic and cadmium levels exceeding safety standards. These levels posed significant risks to both the environment and human health.
In Phase IV monitoring, Ecology committed to refining air quality models (MM5, CALMET, and CALPUFF) for the Northport study area. These models were intended to identify pollution “hot spots” and optimal long-term monitoring sites while evaluating the need for further emission reductions at the Teck facility.
Instead Teck committed to monitoring the air with a monitor at Sheep Creek from 1999 – 2009. Only later was it discovered that they were calculating levels below .01 to 0, altering the results in their favor. It was later discovered that they claimed the 90 -97% reduction in levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead that began in 1997 was due to the new Kivcet smelter they had installed. Just this year, we discovered that in the 2000 B.C. Ministry of Environment’s emissions report it states that the Kivcet smelter was installed at the Teck smelter in 1997, but did not go into production until mid to late 2000, and as of 2001 no air emission testing had been conducted on it. Since their inventory did not drastically decrease from 1997-2001, nor did they have any massive shut-downs the only other explanation is they lied, and continued to lie from 1997 – 2009, when they concluded their monitoring at Sheep Creek.
In 2017, Ecology reviewed past monitoring data and concluded that new, strategically placed, long-term air monitors were necessary to protect Northport residents and to conduct an accurate Human Health Risk Assessment, which EPA was just starting. Despite this, the EPA ignored Ecology’s recommendations and concluded their HHRA in 2021, concluding (to summarize) due to the data gaps (current air monitoring being one) the residents were likely safe but they were uncertain because of the uncertainties the data gaps created.
Ecology continues to advocate for the community, seeking funding to install air monitors in and around Northport.
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