The commencement of Contaminated Sediment Dredging is set for Later this Month at Bellingham Shipping Terminal, as stated by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
With the infusion of federal funding, the Port of Bellingham is embarking on a series of enhancements at the terminal, foremost among them being the dredging of approximately 22,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. This initiative aims to reinstate optimal water depths to facilitate ship access while simultaneously fulfilling a crucial component of the cleanup action mandated by the Ecology for the relevant section of the Whatcom Waterway site.
To safeguard the migratory path of juvenile salmon, the in-water dredging activities are strategically scheduled for two distinct periods: from January to mid-February and from August to October. The upcoming winter dredging operations are slated to commence on January 29, 2024.
In addition to the cleanup efforts, the Port has outlined non-cleanup-related projects at the terminal, with a projected timeline spanning from April 2024 to September 2025. Simultaneously, the engineering design phase for the cleanup action on the remaining Phase 2 Site Areas is underway. Construction activities for these areas are anticipated to kick off in 2025 and are expected to extend over several years, according to statements from Ecology.