We are managing the cleanup of 12 sites in the Bellingham Bay area. All are on or near the waterfront. Two sites have been completely cleaned up, and we are monitoring them to make sure they continue to meet cleanup goals. Most of the other 10 have had some clean up and are on their way to completion. The Port of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham, and others are doing the cleanup work under legal agreements with us.
The cleanup sites along Bellingham Bay are the legacy of municipal and industrial practices that preceded modern environmental laws. Soil, marine sediment, and groundwater were contaminated by operations at the former Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill, municipal landfills, wood treatment plants, shipyards, and a coal gasification plant.
Environmental restoration
Cleaning up contaminated sediment and controlling of sources of contamination will provide clean rearing habitat for forage fish and Chinook salmon, an important food source for Puget Sound's resident orcas.
Cleaning up contaminated sediment is challenging. It’s complicated due to the number of tribal, federal, state, and local jurisdictions with authority, and the fact that the contamination can come from many sources. Site-specific sources include contaminated soil runoff and contaminated groundwater flowing to the sediment. Bay-wide sources include stormwater outfalls and particulates like dust and smoke settling from the air.
To help address these challenges, the organizations with jurisdiction in Bellingham Bay came together and developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy. This document informs and guides in-water projects that will help restore the environmental health of the bay.
Ecology's main role in the restoration is overseeing the cleanup of contaminated sites.
2022
Our 2022 Cleanup Update for Bellingham Bay:
- Reports the progress made in 2021
- Provides the current status of each site
- Describes the work planned in 2022
Previous work
We have already done substantial cleanup construction work in Bellingham Bay.
We've also completed numerous cleanup documents and investigations to prepare for more construction in 2023.
2021
A number of important cleanup documents and pre-engineering design investigations were completed to prepare for construction in 2023:
- One legal agreement amended
- Two Cleanup Action Plans completed
- Three Pre-Remedial Design Investigations conducted
2020
Video: Bellingham Bay 2020 cleanup update
A number of important cleanup documents and pre-engineering design investigations were completed to prepare for construction in 2023:
- One legal agreement amended
- Two Cleanup Action Plans completed
- Three Pre-Remedial Design Investigations conducted
2019
A number of important cleanup documents were completed to prepare for construction in 2023:
- Four legal agreements amended or created
- One Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study report completed
- Two Cleanup Action Plans completed
- Two engineering design documents completed
2017 and 2018
Significant cleanup construction work was completed, including the removal of:
- 14,500 cubic yards of sediment
- 3,200 cubic yards of contaminated soil
- 36,900 square feet of over-water structures
- 905 creosote-treated pilings
2016
Substantial cleanup construction work was completed in Phase 1 areas of the Whatcom Waterway site.
- Removed:
- Over 111,400 cubic yards of contaminated sediment
- Nearly 10,000 tons of soil
- Over 260 tons of creosote-treated timber
- Over 5,100 tons of concrete and asphalt rubble (over 98% was reused or recycled)
- Isolated contaminated sediment with nearly 103,000 cubic yards of clean material
- Installed 36,600 square feet of sheet pile walls on the north side of the waterway to support the upland and prevent contaminated groundwater from entering the waterway
The 12 Bellingham Bay cleanup sites are in various stages of the cleanup process shown above. Below is information for each site (listed from north to south).
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil from former municipal landfilling activities.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Cleanup action complete
- Site Use Controls (legal controls to ensure the cleanup is not compromised) under development
Planned work for 2022
- Complete Site Use Controls
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater associated with former shipyard practices.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Cleanup Action Plan under development
Planned work for 2022
- Complete Cleanup Action Plan
- Begin Engineering Design
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated sediment associated with past boatyard practices.
Current status
- Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study pending. These are two distinct but related studies that are usually performed at the same time. Together, they describe the investigation of contamination and evaluate cleanup options (referred to as cleanup alternatives).
Planned work for 2022
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated sediment associated with former industrial practices.
Current status
Sediment Cleanup Unit 1
- Engineering Design underway
Sediment Cleanup Unit 2
- Engineering Design pending
Planned work for 2022
Sediment Cleanup Unit 1
- Continue Engineering Design
Sediment Cleanup Unit 2
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil and groundwater associated with former municipal landfilling and industrial activities.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
- Complete Engineering Design
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil due to former municipal landfilling activities.
Current status
Planned work for 2022
- Review cleanup action to ensure it still protects human health and the environment
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated sediment associated with past pulping operations.
Current status
Phase 1 areas
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Cleanup action complete
- Site Use Controls (legal controls to ensure the cleanup is not compromised) under development
- Monitoring underway
Phase 2 areas
Planned work for 2022
Phase 1 areas
- Complete Site Use Controls
Phase 2 areas
- Complete Engineering Design
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil and groundwater associated with former industrial operations.
Current status
Northern area
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Cleanup action complete
- Monitoring underway
Southern area
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
Northern area
Southern area
- Continue Engineering Design
- Complete cleanup of Lignin Parcel
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment associated with former wood treatment facility.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
- Continue Engineering Design in coordination with Cornwall Avenue Landfill Engineering Design
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment associated with past municipal landfilling activities.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
- Continue Engineering Design in coordination with RG Haley Engineering Design.
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment associated with a former gas manufacturing facility.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
- Complete Engineering Design
Site information
Site description
This site has contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment associated with former industrial activities.
Current status
- Interim Action (early cleanup) completed
- Engineering Design underway
Planned work for 2022
- Continue Engineering Design
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project
The Bellingham Bay cleanup effort began as the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project in 1996, co-managed by us and the Port of Bellingham. This bay-wide effort included 12 agencies from federal, tribal, state, and local governments, and Georgia-Pacific West. The goal of the project was to coordinate the cleanup sediments, control sources of pollution impacting sediments, and restore habitat, while considering land and water uses. In 2000, the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy was finalized.
Today, this group is called the Bellingham Bay Action Team. It has a slightly different composition and is mainly led by us. The team continues to coordinate in-water projects with the guidance of the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.
Bellingham Bay Action Team