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Department of Ecology News Release - May 29, 2008
08-146
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the Port of Everett are working to clean up contaminated land and water sites in Port Gardner Bay and the Snohomish River Estuary.
Ecology identified Port Gardner Bay as a high-priority, “early-action” cleanup area under the Puget Sound Initiative. The initiative is an effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agricultural and environmental communities, scientists, and the public to restore and protect the Sound.
In Port Gardner Bay, Ecology will manage or assist with the cleanup of nine sites contaminated with gasoline, diesel fuel, metals, and other substances. While the Port of Everett had begun taking the necessary steps to clean up some of these sites, Ecology has sent a team to Everett to work with the Port, other site owners, area tribes, and others to help shape the cleanups.
Ecology also is conducting a bay-wide study to prioritize combined cleanup and restoration opportunities in the lower Snohomish Estuary and Port Gardner area.
“This work will protect natural resources, wildlife and public health by removing toxics that threaten them. It also shows that cleaning up and protecting your environment can inject new life into your economy,” said Andrew Kallus, Ecology’s Port Gardner Bay project leader.
“We are pleased that the Department of Ecology recognized our efforts to clean up our waterfront property, and included us in the greater Puget Sound Initiative process,” said John Mohr, executive director of the Port of Everett. “Working with Ecology, the Port of Everett has removed more than 85,000 tons of contaminated soil from the Port Gardner Wharf site, also known as the North Marina West End Site. Soon, we will begin efforts to clean up the Everett Shipyard site, in partnership with Ecology and long-time tenant Everett Shipyard.”
Here’s a look at the nine sites:
Everett Shipyard: Everett Shipyard Inc. operates this Port-owned site within the Port Gardner Wharf project boundaries along West Marine View Drive. Metals, petroleum products, anti-fouling agents, and other hazardous substances have been found in soil, storm drain sediments, and adjacent marine sediments. The pollution likely resulted from leaks, spills, stormwater runoff, and shipyard activities. In April, the Port, Everett Shipyard and Ecology signed an Agreed Order outlining the cleanup efforts.
North Marina West End Site: Metals, petroleum products, and other pollutants have been found in soil and groundwater at this Port-owned site. Former on-site tanks, marine service activities, and trucking operations likely caused the pollution. The Port has completed significant investigation and partial cleanup of this site as part of a larger North Marina Redevelopment project known as Port Gardner Wharf. A public comment period for a draft Agreed Order continues through June 3.
Bay Wood Products Site: Soil, groundwater, and sediments at this Port-owned site may be contaminated from former on-site tanks and from historical sawmill operations. The Port and Ecology are working on an Agreed Order for site cleanup.
North Marina Ameron/Hulbert Site: Metals and other substances contaminate soil and groundwater at this Port-owned site. They likely came from historical lumber mill operations and from stockpiles of excess soil and debris from other areas. Ecology and the Port will work toward an Agreed Order for site cleanup.
Former Weyerhaeuser Mill A: This Port-owned site contained the former Weyerhaeuser Mill A lumber and pulp and paper operation from 1901 to the early 1980s in what is now a portion of the Port of Everett’s shipping terminals. Metals, dioxins/furans, wood waste, and other substances related to mill operations contaminate sediments there. Ecology and the Port will work toward an Agreed Order for site cleanup.
Riverside Business Park: Arsenic contaminates this Port-owned parcel within the Everett Smelter Site. Future cleanup activities depend in part on a bankruptcy settlement with former smelter operator Asarco.
Jeld-Wen: Ecology and owner Jeld-Wen Inc. have signed an Agreed Order for site cleanup. Various petroleum products and other pollutants contaminate soil and groundwater. The pollution likely stems from former on-site tanks, historical operations which included door manufacturing, pole treating, and saw milling, and possibly from improper barrel storage.
ExxonMobil Bulk Storage Plant: Ecology, ExxonMobil and American Distributing will work toward an Agreed Order for site cleanup. Petroleum – from leaks and spills from on-site storage tanks – contaminates soil and groundwater. Wood waste and debris contaminate fill material. Some site work already was done under a 1998 Agreed Order with Ecology to characterize site contaminants and contain pollution. Groundwater is monitored.
East Waterway: Uses in this area include the U.S. Navy base, Port-related deep-water shipping operations, and Kimberly Clark barging. Sediment contaminants identified so far include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, and metals. Ecology expects to work out cleanup agreements with several potentially liable parties.
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Media contacts:
Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848;
cell 360-584-5744; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Lisa Lefeber, Port of Everett communications administrator, 425-388-0617;
cell 425-344-0301;
lisam@portofeverett.com
Read more about efforts to clean up Puget Sound:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/index.html
Port of Everett website:
www.portofeverett.com
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
