PORT ANGELES — Go ahead and wade in the water at Hollywood Beach. The state Department of Health says it’s safe.
It’s also OK to beachcomb, swim, row or kayak in Port Angeles Harbor, according to an evaluation of risks from recreational exposure to surface sediments.
“Surface sediments” are those in tidal areas and in water down to 10 feet deep, according to the report that was released Friday.
“Exposure to surface sediments is not expected to result in harmful human health effects,” said Dean Anderson of Clallam County Health and Human Services, who made the state report public. “The Department of Health has no public health recommendations regarding exposure to surface sediments in the harbor.”
That doesn’t mean the department has nothing to say about the sediments.
It has posted a 15-page letter and report packed with tables and an aerial photo of the harbor at www.clallam.net/HHS. The letter cautions that the study applies only to beach and intertidal sediments.
Department of Ecology studies continue with an eye to cleaning up pollution of bottom sediments in the western sector of the harbor, and Rayonier is proceeding with plans to clean up the harbor bottom off its former mill site at the north end of Ennis Street.
Bottom sediments in both areas are heavily polluted.
Timetables for the actual cleanup have not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, work continues along Front Street and Marine Drive on a sewage pumping station to handle storm overflows and keep untreated sewage out of the harbor.
Presently, heavy rainfall washes raw sewage into the harbor and triggers health alerts.
As for the surface sediments, the Department of Health report identifies scores of chemicals from ammonia to zinc, including arsenic, barium, lead and a host of petrochemicals and poisons.
It also lists exposure rates for touching, inhaling or swallowing harbor water for infants, children, adolescents and adults, as well as their corresponding risks of cancer.
The conclusion: Absent any other alerts from county or state health officials, enjoy the water.
Just don’t dive too deeply.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
