EFC Master Calendar

You may have noticed a new link off to the right of this post.  If you click on the link labeled "EFC Calendar" you'll see the club's master calendar.  It'll list camps, clinics, board meetings, and other events applicable on a club-wide basis.  Wendi Racine created it.  Check it out...

Thanks Wendi!

Wilburton Turf Field Nears Completion

New lighted turf field at Wilburton Hill Park in Bellevue.  Looking west toward the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Photo:  Pete Butterfield

The installation of synthetic turf at Wilburton Hill Park has been a high-priority park project for many years and is identified in the City of Bellevue's 2003 Parks & Open Space System Plan. It was also one of two synthetic sports field projects identified as part of the 2008 parks levy approved by Bellevue voters.

The project is nearing completion as indicated in the photo sent by Pete Butterfield.

An overview of the project can be found on the City of Bellevue's website here.

EPA Study Eases Concern of Harmful Chemicals in Turf Surfaces

Arsenal FC's Field Turf playing surface at Hale End in the UK

Glenn Hayman, a Senior Hydrogeologist with EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., a local environmental engineering firm forwarded this note....

"For any of you that have been following the concerns raised about the tire crumbles in turf fields, the summary of EPA’s finding below should ease those concerns. It is still unwise to eat artificial turf, the infill, and tire crumbles, just like it is unwise to eat dirt and many other everyday items.The EPA, in a recent study, found that concentrations of chemicals in recycled tire material were below levels considered harmful. Recycled tire material, or “tire crumb,” is commonly used in synthetic turf sports fields and children’s playgrounds."


From the Lab Science News:
According to the EPA, public concerns have been raised in the past several years over the use of tire crumb materials, especially after high levels of lead were reported in some artificial turf fields. In 2009, the Synthetic Turf Council reported that artificial (synthetic) turf has been installed in approximately 4,500 fields, tracks and playgrounds.

EPA identified a number of chemicals that may be found in tires, although not all are contained in each tire:

• acetone • aniline • arsenic • barium • benzene • benzothiazole • cadmium • chloroethane • chromium
• cobalt • copper • halogenated flame retardants • isoprene • latex • lead • manganese • mercury • methyl ethyl ketone • methyl isobutyl ketone • naphthalene • nickel • nylon • phenol • pigments • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons • polyester • rayon • styrene butadiene • toluene • trichloroethylene

EPA formed a workgroup in 2008 to consider the threat of tire crumb health effects via inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Laboratory studies were conducted to consider the tire material content, off-gassing, and leaching characteristics. EPA then produced a 105-page document entitled “A Scoping-Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds,” released in November 2009.

Study findings

• Particulate matter, metals and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were measured in the air samples and compared with areas away from the turf fields (background levels). The levels found in air samples from the artificial turf were similar to background levels found in any local air samples. One VOC associated with tire crumb materials (methyl isobutyl ketone) was detected in the samples collected on one synthetic turf field but was not detected in the corresponding background sample.

• No tire-related fibers were observed in the air samples.

• All air concentrations of particulate matter and lead were well below levels of concern.

• More than 90 percent of the lead in the tire crumb material was tightly bound and unavailable for absorption by users of the turf fields.

• Zinc, which is a known additive in tires, was found in tire crumb samples. However, air and surface wipe monitoring levels of zinc were found to be below levels of concern.

• Total extractable metal concentrations from the infill, turf blade samples and tire crumb material varied widely in the samples collected both at a given site and between sites, so it could not be determined to be a function of the presence of crumb material.

• The average extractable lead concentrations for turf blade, tire crumb infill, and tire crumb rubber were low. Although there are no standards for lead in recycled tire material or synthetic turf, average concentrations were well below the EPA standard for lead in soil (400 part per million).

• Likewise, the average extractable lead concentrations for turf field wipe samples were low. Although there are no directly comparable standards, average concentrations were well below the EPA standard for lead in residential floor dust (40 micrograms per square foot).

The results from this study along with results from other studies conducted by Federal, State, and local organizations, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, will be considered at an EPA meeting planned for Spring 2010. This meeting will help to identify steps to address public questions regarding the safety of tire crumb infill in ball fields and playgrounds.

For more information, visit EPA’s website www.epa.gov/nerl/features/tire_crumbs.html

Pics of the Week

Lucia Rosenast from Coach Danny Jackson's Girls Dev Red team (U10) "plays up" against an Emerald City U11 defender.

Photo:  Jeff Rodgers

Geneva E (GU13B) just in front of HPFC Eagles.

Photo:  Michelle Riley

Katey R (GU13B) in control against HPFC Eagles.

Photo: Michelle Riley

Meredith T (GU13B) goes airborne to save the ball vs HPFC Eagles.

Photo: Michelle Riley

2 New Turf Fields at Eastgate Move Closer to Approval

Eastgate Airfield Property

Received this email today from Jennifer Robertson, Bellevue City Councilmember.  We had written in support of the construction of 2 new lighted turf fields on the old Eastgate Airfield.  This is one of the last large open areas available in Bellevue on which turf fields could be sited.  You can see all the project documents here.  Here is Jennifer's note back:

"You'll be pleased to know that last night (Monday, Feb 1) the Bellevue City Council moved Alternative A forward for enviromental review, followed by detailed design work. It will come back to Council later this year to approve the detailed design. So unless something throws this off track, the park will have the two turf / lighted fields for sports..."

Thanks for the update Jennifer!

Kei Kinoshita Joins Eastside FC

Kei Kinoshita, USSF "A" licensed coach, returns to coach at EFC with the U17 White Team. He is a former professional player in both his native Japan and the U.S. An all-region player in Japan, Kinoshita went on to play five seasons for the A-League Seattle Sounders and two years for Vissel Kobe of Japan. He later coached with SC Tottori of Japan's third division. Kinoshita operates the AJ Soccer School, in both Japan and Seattle.

Kim Poplawski Reps EFC in state tournaments

Ok, yes, it's the Poplawski Christmas Card.

But I didn't have anything else.

That would be Kim on the left....

We wanted to extend a big thank you to Kim Poplawski for being our Challenge/Championship State Cup representative. She is the sole communication conduit to the state for state cup. The draw, scheduling conflicts, protests, reporting results, and so forth.

For the 2009 spring state cup, Kim volunteered to represent our teams and did such a superb job, that we asked her to do it again this year. She agreed to be our rep for both the winter and spring state cups. Once again, she is getting rave reviews from our team managers.
Kim, thank you!