Yard Program progress

We continue to sample and identify properties (yards) that qualify for state-funded soil replacement though the Yard Program. Since 2013, we have found 1,201 yards eligible for soil replacement within the program service area. So far we've replaced soil in 394 of those yards.

We prioritize our soil replacement work in the Yard Program service area based on levels of contamination, environmental health disparities, and logistical factors. After considering available data, we developed our soil replacement sequence.

In 2024, we completed cleanup of about 50 yards in two neighborhoods in Tacoma, Groups 14 and 15.

394 completed, 48 being planned, 640 left. 1201 qualified, 119 opted out

Planning

We work continually with homeowners across the Yard Program area and have groups lined up into the future. We start planning for each group up to a year before construction.

Construction

25 properties receiving soil replacement are west of Pearl St. between N 46th and N 51st

In June 2024, we completed soil replacement work for a group of 25 properties and one childcare. Group 15 continued our efforts to address smelter contamination inside the EPA Study Area.

The work area for the Group 15 residential properties is between Lexington Street and Pearl Street, from N 48th Street to N 49th Street, in Tacoma.

17 properties are west of Vassault; 6 are between 35th and 37th near Orchard.

In January 2024, we completed soil replacement for a group of 23 residential properties in North Tacoma. We also helped with soil safety actions at two childcares as part of this work. Group 14 continues our efforts to address contamination in neighborhoods outside of the EPA Study Area.

Group 14 construction took place in two general work areas in Tacoma:

West of Vassault Avenue between N 35^th Street and N 45^th Street
Between N Shirley Street and N Ferdinand Street from N 35^th Street to N 37^th Street.

Soil replacement sequence

This is the order we are working in. There are multiple numbered "construction groups" in each lettered group. Find your letter group by entering your address into our Dirt Alert map. Be sure to check whether your group is within the EPA study area or the Tacoma service area.

Soil replacement inside the EPA Study Area

Map of study-area sequence. Text version is linked in caption. — EPA study area. We are working from dark to light areas. Download a text-description of the map.

The Study Area is where the EPA oversaw Asarco’s soil sampling and replacement work in the early 1990s and 2000s. We’re cleaning up within the study area in five stages. Each stage includes two to five lettered property groups.

The soil replacement sequence for the Study Area is based on the percentage of properties with the highest remaining soil contamination and properties where EPA did not replace any soil.

We are working from dark to light areas. We are currently working on stage 2 (areas A, B, & C). For more information on the sequence, please see the Program Design and Implementation Plan (March 2013).

Groups D, F, J, K, and L completed
Groups A, B, and C in progress
Groups M, N, and I waiting for cleanup
Groups G and H waiting for cleanup
Groups O, P, Q, R, and S waiting for cleanup

Soil replacement outside of the study area

See cleanup sequence list below, or detailed description linked in caption. — Cleanup work is moving from the darkest areas to lighter areas. Download a text-description of the map.

There will be eight stages in the Tacoma Service Area (outside of the EPA study area). Each stage includes one to three lettered property groups. We are currently working on groups A and D. When we finish with these groups, cleanup will move in this order:

Groups A and D are in progress
Group G
Group ZZ
Groups B and C
Group F
Group J and K
Groups I and M
Groups E, H, and L

In 2023, we updated the soil replacement sequence for the Tacoma service area to account for additional contamination data collected between 2015 and 2019. Our updated sequence also considers environmental health disparity data. The new sequence prioritizes cleanup for letter groups with the highest contamination and those experiencing the highest environmental health disparities.

Contact information

Justin Zakoren
Tacoma Smelter Plume Remediation Manager
Justin.Zakoren@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6790