Latest information on the Lower Duwamish

Public comment period for Precision Engineering Inc. cleanup site begins Nov. 9

We invite the public to review and comment on cleanup documents for the Precision Engineering Inc. cleanup site from Nov. 9 – Dec. 8, 2020. The following documents are available for review and comment:

• Agreed Order — requires the Potentially Liable Persons to investigate contamination, complete a Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study and draft Cleanup Action Plan for the site.
• Public Participation Plan — describes how we will inform the community about site activities and opportunities to be involved in the cleanup process.

The Precision Engineering Inc. site is located at 1231 S Director St, Seattle in the South Park neighborhood.  Precision Engineering operated a heavy machining and equipment repair services shop at this location from 1968 through 2005.  Activities there included grinding and polishing, honing, hard-chrome plating, milling, welding, and applying other flame and arc-applied metal coatings. This work involved the use of chemicals, particularly chromic acid for plating, and trichloroethylene (TCE) as a solvent.

Previous investigations at the Site found the following contaminants in soil, air, and/or groundwater:

• Oil and diesel range organics (ORO, DRO)
• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Chromium (Cr III, Cr VI)

The levels of contamination at the Site are potentially harmful to humans and the environment and must be addressed under Washington’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act. Submit comments online starting Nov. 9.

Ecology welcomes a new corrective action site manager

After long and brilliant careers, site managers Dean Yasuda and Ed Jones are retiring from Ecology. Dean and Ed both managed cleanup sites in the LDW.  The new site manager for the GE Aviation (east and west sites) will be Paul Bianco. Paul has a strong background in the design of site remediation systems and disproportionate cost analysis and is a welcome addition to Ecology’s team.

Shell Harbor Island Fuel Spill

During a fuel transfer at the Shell Harbor Island facility on Oct. 1, 2020, a pump failure caused about 1,000 gallons of gasoline to spill. The majority of gasoline was held in secondary containment while a small amount was released onto grass and soil. Visual observations and meter readings during and after the incident indicated that gasoline was not released to the waterway.

Multiple spill response contractors and agencies were on scene for cleanup operations at the site, which is located just north of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site. Cleanup included removing all the free gasoline/water liquid from the containment area, conducting fine cleaning, and removing the small patch of gasoline-contaminated gravel and soil from outside of the pump house where the leak occurred. 

Some additional excavations of gasoline-contaminated soil are ongoing in areas immediately north and south of the pump house, as well as an investigation of potential impacts to groundwater beneath the area of the spill. This facility has coverage under the Industrial Stormwater General Permit (Permit ID WAR307184) and Ecology’s stormwater inspectors visited the site on Oct. 2, 2020 to review compliance with the permit.

Preliminary Cleanup Level document now available

An updated version of the Preliminary Cleanup Level (PCUL) document is available with new chemicals and toxicity data. There is an excel file with the PCUL values and a word file with information about how PCULs are calculated and how to use them properly.

Cleanup Sites Update factsheet now available

The Lower Duwamish Cleanup Sites Update is now available.  The document summarizes the status of each of the 24 formal cleanup sites along the LDW.  Versions are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese. 

Ecology reviewing Draft Cleanup Alternatives document for Duwamish Shipyard site

We are reviewing a Draft Feasibility Study submitted on August 10, 2020, for the Duwamish Shipyard site. This report, which builds on investigation work at the site, suggests possible cleanup alternatives and then recommends a preferred alternative for the site. After our review, we'll host a public comment periodon the report. That will likely happen in late 2021.

Demolition begins at Snopac Property

Demolition of the building on the Snopac Property began in late August. This helps prepare for the Interim Action (partial) cleanup.The Interim Action Work plan was finalized in March 2020 after a public comment period in July 2019.

Ecology’s Water Quality Program offers grant and loan funding

Our Water Quality Combined Funding Program provides annual funding (grants and loans) to projects that improve and protect water quality throughout Washington. The application period for funding under the current (2022) cycle is now open until Oct. 13, 2020.

• Funding guidelines
  For quick reference, Table 1 of these guidelines shows who is eligible for the 4 types of funding available, and Table 2 shows what types of projects may be funded by each type. 

Ecology repsonds to diesel spill at Boyer Towing and Logistics

On August 4, about 304 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the ground when a tank was overfilled during a fuel transfer at Boyer Logistics (7318 4th Ave S, Seattle). Some diesel entered the catch basin inlet and storm drain line and about 40 gallons made it to the Duwamish River. The tide was out at the time, so most of diesel that exited the pipe at the outfall impacted the exposed intertidal area. A much smaller volume entered the river itself, and altogether about 38 gallons were recovered during the cleanup operations.

When the incident occurred, the fueling operator immediately reported the spill to the National Response Center and Ecology’s Environmental Report Tracking System (ERTS). Cleanup crews used absorbent pads on the intertidal sediment and a boom on the water to catch any fuel that entered the river, and then cleaned out the storm drain lines, catch basin inlet, oil-water separator, and the onsite stormwater treatment system to remove all residual diesel.

Our Spill Response Team provided cleanup oversight and coordination with other agencies. Our Duwamish Stormwater Inspector visited the property during cleanup operations to review the causes of the spill, identify any operational or structural pollution prevention deficiencies, and determine follow-up spill prevention and response actions. Ecology’s Inspector also provided that information to Boyer in the form of a Corrections Required Notice on August 5, 2020.

Ecology issues penalty for June 25 Coleman Oil spill

On June 25, 2020, we penalized Coleman Oil, LLC $7,500 for strict liability and negligence associated with an oil tanker spill. The spill occurred on August 1, 2018, when a Coleman Oil tank truck loaded with 11,300 gallons of gasoline made a sharp left from Spokane Street in Seattle onto Delridge Way SW. This route was not Coleman Oil's prescribed route to the delivery site. The tank truck rolled over, though its second trailer remained upright. The driver escaped from the rolled over cab and called for help.

Gasoline leaked from the overturned tank truck. The Seattle Police Department (SPD), Seattle Fire Department (SFD), Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities, and Ecology responded. SPD controlled traffic, and SFD applied NovaCool firefighting foam to control the spill and keep it from igniting.

Approximately 2,800 gallons of gasoline leaked to the street stormwater drains, along with the firefighting foam. It was estimated that 406 gallons of gasoline was released into the West Duwamish Waterway via a stormwater outfall.

SPD also cited the driver for speeding. The SPD report also stated the light was yellow when the driver made the turn. Cleanup and decontamination of the stormwater structures continued through August 15, 2018.

Agreed Order finalized for Terminal 115 Plant 1 Site

We finalized the Agreed Order for the Terminal 115 Plant 1 Site on July 6, 2020.  The order requires the Potentially Liable Parties to investigate environmental conditions and develop a draft cleanup plan. 

We held a public comment period for a draft Agreed Order for the Site in May of 2020.  The Agreed Order and other documents are on the Terminal 115 Plant 1 Cleanup Site.

Lower Duwamish Waterway Source Control Status Report available

The current Source Control Status Report is now available. The report summarizes source control activities conducted by the Lower Duwamish Waterway interagency Source Control Work Group during 2018.

Emerald Gateway interim action underway

The interim (partial cleanup) action for the Emerald Gateway site is in progress. Actions will include sampling soil and removing some contaminated soil. We finalized the Agreed Order for the Emerald Gateway Site on January 15, 2020.

Ecology receives Draft Remedial Investigation Report for Snopac Site

We expect to receive the revised Draft Remedial Investigation Report for the Snopac Site on May 27, 2020. The partial cleanup activities on the site will move forward in late May/early June while the overall site cleanup plan is developed. We held a comment period for an Agreed Order and Interim Action Work Plan in 2019. 

An updated version of The Preliminary Cleanup Level (PCUL) document is available with new chemical and toxicity data. The document is available in the list of electronic documents on Ecology's Lower Duwamish Waterway Site Page. There is an Excel file with the PCUL values and a Word file with information about how PCULs are calculated and how to use them properly.

Ecology is holding a public comment period for General Recycling Individual NPDES Permit

We invited the public to review and comment on the proposed individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for General Recycling of Washington LLC. The 30-day public comment period began on May 27, 2020.

General Recycling owns and operates the T105 dock and material handling facility at 4260 West Marginal Way SW, Seattle, located on the western shore of the Duwamish River. Stormwater discharges from General Recycling have been authorized under an Industrial Stormwater General NPDES permit since April 1995 (permit numbers SO3002341 and WAR002341).  General Recycling installed chemical treatment enhancements in 2012 and has continued to add improvements to the treatment system.  In 2015, Ecology issued Administrative Order No. 10984 to require General Recycling to apply for an individual permit and to sample additional parameters. This proposed individual permit sets effluent limits, and requires toxicity testing and a PCB pollutant minimization plan.

Design Report approved for Emerald Gateway cleanup aite

We approved an Interim Action Design Report for the Emerald Gateway site on April 6, 2020. This design report builds on the work plan approved in fall of 2019. It includes details on how to implement the Work Plan and specifies remediation levels that must be met.

Ecology involved in the Jim Clark Marina fire response

A fire started late into the evening March 27, 2020 at Jim Clark Marina. City of Seattle fire crews, harbor patrol, Ecology’s Spill Response team, and the U.S. Coast Guard all responded to the fire. Three boat houses, supporting dock structures, and approximately eight vessels were destroyed in the fire.

Due to safety concerns, it was not possible to assess fuel release at first.The U.S. Coast Guard contractors deployed hard booms to contain and recover fuel released. Drone footage confirmed that no fuel passed the boom once it was in place. However, a minor sheen was observed near the mouth of the Duwamish River on the West Waterway which wfrom a vessel which broke free very early on in the fire and became grounded near the shoreline downriver from the marina. This source was later secured.

Our spill responders returned to the scene daily until impacted vessels, debris, and fuel were recovered. In total, approximately 600 gallons of fuel (gasoline and diesel) from sunken and damaged floating vessels and approximately 150 gallons of oil from the water surface were recovered. Approximately 2,000 pounds of oily surface debris, which consisted of burned structures, were removed over the course of the response.

Administrative Order issued to Star Forge LLC, dba Jorgensen Forge

On April 9, 2020, we issued an Administrative Order to Jorgensen Forge, at 8531 E Marginal Way S, Tukwila. The facility discharges stormwater to the Lower Duwamish Waterway superfund site and is itself a contaminated site undergoing cleanup under the Model Toxics Control Act.

The new Administrative Order issued imposes additional discharge monitoring requirements, establishes indicator levels for pollutant parameters not included in the ISGP, and requires batch treatment of all future stormwater discharges to prevent continued discharge of pollutants to the Duwamish River. This investigation benefited from cross-program collaboration from staff in our Water Quality, Toxics Cleanup and Hazardous Waste-Toxics Reduction programs.

Ecology receives Draft Interim Action Design Report for Emerald Gateway Site

We received the revised Draft Interim Action Design Report for the Emerald Gateway Site on March 6, 2020. The Interim Action Design Report will direct interim (partial) cleanup activities to move forward while the overall site cleanup is developed. A comment period for an Agreed Order and Interim Action Work Plan occurred in 2019.

Ecology hires a contractor to support the Green-Duwamish Pollutant Loading Assessment

Ecology secured a contract with RESPEC to provide technical support for the HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program – FORTRAN) Watershed Model. RESPEC will help set up the Pollutant Loading Assessment (PLA) model so it better addresses the management scenarios. In addition, the RESPEC contract will provide technical support for the Soos Creek Total Maximum Daily Load study, led by our Environmental Assessment Program.

The PLA Technical Advisory Committee met on February 19, 2020 to discuss important project updates. Meeting minutes will be posted on the project document page when available.

 

Información sobre la limpieza ambiental del Duwamish: Si le gustaría obtener este documento en español, favor de comunicarse con Gretchen Newman al 360-407-6097 o preguntas@ecy.wa.gov.

Thông tin về công tác làm sạch môi trường Duwamish: Nếu quý vị muốn nhận tài liệu này bằng tiếng Việt hoặc cần thêm thông tin, xin liên hệ ông Liêm Nguyễn 360-407-6955, điện thư: Lngu461@ecy.wa.gov.

For more information on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s work in the Lower Duwamish Waterway, visit https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=1002020, where you can subscribe to their email listserv for periodic updates

Green-Duwamish Pollutant Loading Assessment update

The Green-Duwamish Pollutant Loading Assessment (PLA) is an ongoing modeling project aimed at identifying sources of pollution in the Green-Duwamish watershed and strategies to reduce those sources. As of January 2020, our PLA Team is currently preparing the preliminary calibration results from the watershed model.

Agreed Order finalized for Emerald Gateway Site

Ecology finalized the Agreed Order for the Emerald Gateway Site on January 15, 2020. The order requires the Potentially Liable Party to investigate environmental conditions, develop a cleanup plan, and conduct an interim (partial) cleanup. The interim action will remove soil from a portion of the site to allow for redevelopment of the property.

We held a public comment period for the draft Agreed Order and draft Interim Action Workplan for in November of 2019. The Agreed Order and other documents are on the Emerald Gateway cleanup webpage.