Bridge Point Development: Frequently Asked Questions

Ecology just got $8.95 million from Bridge Point Tacoma. How do we know this is going back into the community?

Answer: The sole purpose of these funds is to help reduce air quality impacts in the South Tacoma area and monitor air quality impacts to the surrounding community. This strategic agreement means Ecology now has the resources to invest the funds back into the community and help ease air quality impacts from the warehouse project.

What specific community investments will Ecology spend the money on?

Answer: Ecology plans to invest the funds into the community to help ease air quality impacts from the project and monitor air quality. Because funds are limited, Ecology will prioritize spending in areas that will be most impacted by truck traffic first. Before spending these funds, Ecology will seek input from the community on how to do so. Actions could include using funds to:

• Perform related, minor home upgrades that improve indoor air quality.
• Provide air purifiers to residents.
• Plant trees along truck routes.

Ecology will also gather input from the community on new ideas that improve air quality. We will use this input to make decisions on which solutions will help while focusing first on those most impacted. This program will be voluntary.

In addition, Ecology will establish a new air quality monitoring station near the project site. We will collect air quality data before and after the warehouse operations begin. Community members will be able to directly access this data from Ecology’s website.

This is the first time we have taken this approach to minimizing offsite air quality impacts from truck traffic, and we need to work with the community on the next steps. We’ll share opportunities for the community to provide input soon.

Will Ecology monitor air quality near the project’s location?

Answer: Yes, Ecology will establish a new air quality monitoring station near the project site. We will collect air quality data before and after the warehouse operations begin.

Specifically, we will collect information on top air pollutants such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides, and black carbon. Once the monitoring station is established, community members will be able to directly access this data from Ecology’s website.

What is Ecology’s role in this project?

Answer: Ecology’s role included issuing a water quality construction permit and participating in an environmental review process (called the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)). Before the project received permits, Ecology submitted comments to the City of Tacoma requesting them to further analyze the project’s air quality impacts.

The water quality permit requires the company to follow certain rules during construction activity so that it keeps incoming stormwater safe and clean. The permit included an administrative order that included extra environmental protections the company needed to follow.

Ecology also attached several measures to the water quality administrative order to reduce the project’s impact on the surrounding community. The company appealed the order, which led to the settlement agreement between the developer and Ecology.

The City of Tacoma also issued permits, in addition to Ecology’s permit.

Will I benefit from settlement?

Answer: We do not know how many people will benefit from the settlement. We will address air quality impacts in a phased approach, focusing first on areas that are most impacted by the project’s truck traffic. This includes residences along Union Ave, just south of 16th and before 35^th Street, which is the primary truck traffic route. We will use this funding to offer healthy air improvements to these residents first because they are most at risk for traffic-related health impacts.

If additional funding is available, we may be able to offer air quality improvements to residents who live further south on Union and those next to the facility. However, it could take a few years for Ecology to implement healthy air improvements within the community. We need to use the funds as efficiently and responsibly as possible. To help, the agency is actively seeking partnerships with other state, federal, and local agencies to take advantage of other existing clean air programs and funding.

What are the next steps?

Answer: Ecology is currently developing a plan to engage with this community. This includes identifying most impacted areas and reaching out directly to the community as well as local and state agency partners to identify additional resources to address impacts. Early in 2025, we will reach out to the most impacted area (along the truck traffic route) to gather feedback on some proposed measures and ask for ideas on how to best reduce impacts to air quality.

We will consider input from the community and other partners before making decisions on how to best spend the settlement funds.

I live along the truck route. How can I give my input to Ecology?

Answer: If you live in the areas of highest impact, along the primary truck route, you will receive a mailer from Ecology this spring, asking for your input on some proposed air improvement projects and your ideas. We will also set up a few days to physically be in your neighborhood knocking on doors to chat with residents, answer questions, and gather feedback.

In addition, you will get access to an online survey, email address where you can send ideas, and a project phone line.