The City of Seattle has begun soil remediation on the Market Street site set for a city-designated homeless encampment. Residents in the area have been warned to protect their edible plants from dust that could contain chemicals.
The city has been posting notices to residents’ doors suggesting that they should cover their outdoor plants and tables while the crews remain on site for more than a week.
Residents should not be concerned about their safety, according to Seattle City Light’s Scott Thomsen. “What they should be looking at is that this project is coming in to clean up contamination and remove it from the neighborhood.” says Thomsen.
The plot, an old Seattle City Light substation, will require approximately $145,000 to clean up. Crews will be removing 12 inches of soil contaminated with chemicals like lead and asbestos from the fenced in area. Additionally, a Korean Mountain Ash tree has already been removed from the site on July 17th.
Watch a KIRO TV report here.
