Ecology welcomes a new cleanup site manager
We are pleased to welcome Julia Schwarz to Ecology’s Lower Duwamish Waterway team. Julia will manage several sites in the Lower Duwamish as well as provide her expertise in hydrogeology to other projects.
Julia previously worked as a geologist and project manager, primarily working on site characterization and remediation projects in the Pacific Northwest.
Ecology welcomes a new cleanup site manager
We are pleased to welcome Sam Wang, PhD, as the new source control engineer for the Lower Duwamish Waterway. In addition to being the site manager for the Boeing Isaacson Thompson and 8801 E Marginal Way S sites, he will coordinate with the EPA on the LDW sediment cleanup engineering design.
Opinion letter for Duwamish Waterway Park cleanup site now available
We issued an opinion letter on a draft Remedial Investigation report for the Duwamish Waterway Park site, an independent cleanup under the Voluntary Cleanup Program. City of Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) drafted the report, which documents cleanup actions that occurred concurrently with park renovations between July 15, 2020 and October 8, 2021.
We are coordinating with SPR on next steps for the site following publication of the opinion letter.
Ecology and other agencies respond to a sinking vessel at South Park Marina
On November 11, 2021, a recreational vessel was found partially submerged at South Park Marina, on the Duwamish River. Our spill responders spent the day onsite helping marina staff contain and absorb the 5 gallons of diesel and motor oil that had discharged to the water. The cause of the sinking is unknown and the owner was responsible for the costs of cleanup and vessel removal.
Final Memo on Gasoline and Diesel Range Organics in Surface Waters available
Our Information & Policy Section released the final Implementation Memorandum No. 23, Concentrations of Gasoline and Diesel Range Organics Predicted to be Protective of Aquatic Receptors in Surface Waters. The memo provides gasoline and diesel range organic concentrations that are predicted to be protective for environmental effects in marine and fresh surface waters at any MTCA site.
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in building materials focus sheet available
We recently published a focus sheet about PCBs in Building Materials.This focus sheet is part of a National Estuary Program Stormwater Strategic Initiative project led by Ecology’s Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program. The focus sheet includes latest information on PCBs, applicable regulations, and tips for building owners, developers, and contractors who deal with building demolition and renovations. We expect to release an additional guidance document in 2022 which will contain cost estimates for managing PCBs in building materials.
Preliminary cleanup level document available
An updated version of the Preliminary Cleanup Level (PCUL) document is available with screening levels for soil, groundwater, sediment, and air at sites along the Lower Duwamish Waterway. The document is available in the list of electronic documents.
Cleanup sites update fact sheet available
The Lower Duwamish Cleanup Sites Update is available. The document summarizes the status of each of the 24 formal cleanup sites along the Lower Duwamish Waterway. Versions are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Interim Action construction complete at Snopac Property cleanup site
The interim action (partial cleanup action) construction finished at the Snopac Property site. This work included installing a shoring wall, groundwater dewatering, excavating contaminated soil, and confirmation soil sampling. Next steps include completing the report documenting the activities and presenting the results of the sampling. More information is available on the Snopac Property website.
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist and Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) finalized for 8801 E Marginal Way S site
A SEPA checklist and DNS for the 8801 E Marginal Way S Site were finalized in February after holding a public comment period from Jan. 25–Feb. 9, 2021. We received no comments and deterimined that no changes to the document were needed.
The SEPA review was completed for an Interim Action (partial cleanup action) occurring at the site. The project will address upland contamination from historic industrial operations.
Agreed Order finalized for Precision Engineering Inc. site
The Agreed Order for the Precision Engineering site was finalized Dec. 18, 2020. The order requires the Potentially Liable Person (PLP) to investigate environmental conditions, develop a cleanup plan, and conduct an interim (partial) cleanup.
We held a public comment period for a draft Agreed Order for the site in November and December of 2020. The Agreed Order and other documents are on the Precision Engineering Inc Cleanup site webpage.
A response summary, which summarizes public comments received during the comment period, is available.