Washington Dept. of Ecology seeks public comments for Port Gardner Bay cleanup project

The Washington Department of Ecology {Ecology) is now accepting public comments on documents related to a plan to remove contaminated sediments from Port Gardner Bay, which would be carried out in cooperation with the Port of Everett.

The contaminated sediment is located at the former Weyerhaeuser Mill A cleanup site, which has hosted activities such as pulp manufacturing, saw milling, ship building, shingle milling and log handling since the 1800s. The port has owned the property since 1983, using it for cargo for construction and manufacturing industries.

Investigations of the site dating to the 1980s have found contaminants including metals, chemicals and organic compounds, leading Ecology to enter an agreed order with Weyerhaeuser and the port in regards to investigating, studying and cleaning up the site. The three organizations are now proposing to begin a limited cleanup initiative, focused on some in-water sediments and wood debris. They plan to dig the materials out and dispose of them at an approved landfill.

In support of this project, they have released a legal agreement and draft public participation plan, which is available for public comment until March 30. The documents can be viewed at the Ecology’s website for the cleanup site, at Ecology’s headquarters in Lacey and at the Everett Public Library.