Another chapter closes in Bellingham s deadly Whatcom Falls Park pipeline disaster
The Bellingham Herald 12/10/2020 Robert Mittendorf, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Bellingham City Council members closed the Olympic Pipeline Incident Fund, one of several established in the wake of the deadly June 1999 explosion and fire in Whatcom Falls Park.
It ended without ceremony or comment on a unanimous council vote Monday, Dec. 7, except to note that all funds have been spent on Whatcom Creek restoration and monitoring.
A total of five funds were created with settlement money related to the disaster, said Forrest Longman, deputy budget director.
“After closing this fund, only one will remain, the Natural Resource Protection and Restoration Fund which is an endowment fund seeded with $4 million,” Longman said. “The interest revenue from that fund is used for restoration projects (not limited to the Whatcom Creek area).”
By Kathi O Shea December 10, 2020 8:08 am
KGMI City of Bellingham
BELLINGHAM, Wash. The Bellingham City Council closed a fund that was established in the wake of the deadly June 1999 explosion and fire in Whatcom Falls Park.
The council voted unanimously to close the Olympic Pipeline Incident Fund at its Monday night meeting.
Councilmember Pinky Vargas said restoration and maintenance funds will be spent by the end of the year and the fund closed December 31.
The fund was established to account for funds received from the bankruptcy settlement of the Olympic Pipeline Company following the pipeline explosion that injured 8 and killed three people who were fishing and playing in the area.