Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 26, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke directs departments to take action on wells

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today directed the state departments of Ecology and Health "to develop a plan of action" to address concerns about the contamination of groundwater in Whatcom County from the chemical pesticide ethelyne dibromide (EDB).

"It is a fundamental responsibility of state government to protect the health and safety of all Washington residents," Locke said. "Therefore, I am quite concerned about the groundwater contamination in the Bertrand Creek area of Whatcom County."

Locke's directive went to Tom Fitzsimmons, director of the Department of Ecology, and Mary Selecky, director of the Department of Health. The staffs of both agencies have been looking into the EDB contamination of groundwater in Whatcom County.

Locke's directive also said, "I understand that your agencies have been working with appropriate federal and local officials to address this problem. I strongly urge you to work with the community, state legislators and other appropriate agencies to develop an action plan addressing this situation. Please report back to me by April 15, 1999, regarding what actions will be taken, and by what date, to secure a safe drinking-water supply for the homes that are immediately affected by the contamination.

"I also want the departments of Ecology and Health to report to me on similar situations of groundwater contamination elsewhere in Washington," Locke's directive said. "Where are these sites located, and what has been done or is being done to ensure they have safe drinking water?"

Noting reports that some of the contaminated wells may have been used by migrant farmworkers, Locke said in his directive to DOE and DOH: "As you know, I am very concerned about the living conditions of our state's migrant farmworkers, and that includes the quality of their drinking water. Accordingly, I direct the Department of Health to assess whether the state should impose stronger water-testing requirements for labor camps than currently required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act."

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