An official website of the State of Washington

Government building

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Menu
Blog > Blog Search

Tacoma Smelter Plume

For almost 100 years, the Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in Tacoma. Air pollution from the smelter settled on the surface soil of more than 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound basin. Learn how Ecology can help.
For almost 100 years, the Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in Tacoma. Air pollution from the smelter settled on the surface soil of more than 1,000 square miles of the Puget Sound basin. Learn how Ecology can help.

Search Blog Posts

14 results

Tacoma Smelter Plume
In 2020, we plan on replacing soil in 58 yards in the Yard Program service area. In January we started on a group of six yards and three childcares.
What We Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume: Model Remedies Guidance gets an update

The Tacoma Smelter Plume Model Remedies Guidance provides straightforward directions on soil sampling and cleanup of soil contaminated with arsenic and lead. 

Alerts
New Tacoma park emerges from Superfund site

Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance offers walking paths, an amphitheater, and Puget Sound views on land that was once the ASARCO smelter slag heap.

What You Can Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program

Through our Residential Yard Sampling and Cleanup Program, we're cleaning up and replacing soil in 14 yards and a community park in the southern end of Vashon-Maury Island.

What We Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume Yard Program progress

To address soil contamination left behind by the former Asarco smelter, we're breaking ground, removing dirt, and cleaning up 39 yards in North Tacoma and 16 yards on Vashon-Maury Island.

What We Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume: Reduced services for residents

Because a state capital budget was not approved, we must cut back on the services we offer to the residents of the Tacoma Smelter Plume area.

What You Can Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume: New Dirt Alert Videos!

The Tacoma Smelter Plume project has three new Dirt Alert videos showing simple actions you can take to stay healthy, plus some great gardening and landscaping tips for around the home.

What We Do
Penacho de la Fundidora Tacoma: Nuevo Material de Ayuda en Español

Ecología lanzó un nuevo programa de ayuda en Español. El programa “Dirt Alert” tiene un sitio web con una lista de más Acciones Saludables.

What You Can Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume: New Outreach in Spanish

Ecology launched new Spanish-language outreach in Federal Way last month.

What You Can Do
Tacoma Smelter Plume: 2016 Yard Program Construction Update

September marks the fast approaching arrival of fall, and a halfway point for this season’s Yard Program work in the Tacoma Smelter Plume. 

What We Do

Showing 1 - 10 of 14 results.

Clear Filters