Renewed Threat from Contaminated Former Lumber Mill near Mad River
In December, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control issued a stunning announcement: the concrete cap at the former McNamara & Peepe lumber mill in Glendale has failed to contain groundwater contaminated with the highly toxic wood preservative pentachlorophenol. The 1998 Remedial Action Plan has been rescinded, and the agency will now develop a new plan to remediate and/or control the contamination.
Upcoming Meetings to discuss the Countywide Rezoning & Community Planning
Humboldt County is considering rezoning hundreds of thousands of acres outside the Coastal Zone to implement the 2017 General Plan.
A series of public workshops to discuss these proposed changes will be held in the coming weeks. Read on for dates and locations:
Baykeeper Appeals Permit for Big Lagoon Asphalt Plant
In November, Humboldt Baykeeper filed an appeal to the California Coastal Commission of Mercer Fraser's asphalt plant at Big Lagoon. Mercer-Fraser Co. has waived the deadline for the appeal hearing. We will keep you informed of next steps.
Photo: Asphalt plant east of Big Lagoon operating under a temporary permit in 2017.
State Issues Humboldt Bay Fish Advisory using Baykeeper's Mercury Data
In October, the State of California issued an official fish advisory for Humboldt Bay using data from Humboldt Baykeeper's recent study of mercury in fish and shellfish. The advisory addresses eight species of fish, some of which are safe to eat up to seven times a week.
Only leopard shark is listed as unsafe to consume in any amount.
Mercury Levels in Humboldt Bay Fish and Shellfish
UPDATED! Humboldt Baykeeper has been testing mercury levels in local fish since July 2016 with funding from the California Environmental Protection Agency. We’ve found that most local fish are safe to eat in moderation—with a few exceptions.
Click HERE for the Final Report
Click HERE for the updated Guidelines
Safety Tips for Cleaning & Cooking Dungeness Crab
Learn how to avoid domoic acid and other toxins
The Dungeness crab season is finally under way! With last year's unsafe domoic acid levels, health department officials continue to recommend not eating the internal organs (known as crab butter) which concentrated toxins, including dioxins.
Click HERE to download the brochure explaining this simple method.
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