Boeing Auburn cleanup site

The Remedial Investigation identified the boundaries of the plume in and around the Boeing facility. It also laid out potential impacts of the contamination by evaluating data from groundwater, surface water, air, and soil samples. The investigation also sampled "areas of concern" and "solid waste management units" at the facility for other contaminants, such as metals and petroleum. Under our oversight, Boeing completed sampling and compiled a draft remedial investigation report that summarizes the investigation’s findings and recommendations.

We reviewed, revised, and approved the remedial investigation report.

More information

• Read the executive summary
• Read the report by section (under "Technical reports")
• Read the summary of results
• Período de comentario público de la Investigación

Sometimes we require a partial cleanup (called an interim action) of a site to reduce potential impacts to human health or the environment from unsafe concentrations of a hazardous substance. We hold a public comment period on proposed interim action plans before authorizing the work.

Boeing discovered high levels of contamination on their property in the 1990s and notified Ecology. The Boeing Auburn remedial investigation began in 2002. The data from the 1990s, combined with newer findings, showed that groundwater at the location of what had been Building 17-05 had very high concentrations of trichloroethene (TCE). We required an interim action using bioremediation to lower TCE concentrations below state cleanup levels. The process took about a year. Since then, monitoring shows that TCE concentrations remain below levels of concern. This interim action will not be the final cleanup.

For more information about the interim action, see these documents:

• Boeing Auburn Fabrication Division – Interim Action Work Plan and SEPA Documents
• Download Report: Interim Remedial Action, Boeing Auburn Area 1, Auburn Washington

The Feasibility Study takes information from the remedial investigation and identifies and evaluates cleanup alternatives.

• Read about potential options for cleaning up contaminated groundwater
• ¿Cómo van a limpiar la contaminación?
• Read about how we set up cleanup levels

These general options may or may not be feasible or beneficial at the Boeing Auburn site. We will incorporate the optimal cleanup option into the Cleanup Action Plan.

Boeing and its contractors have started a bioremediation pilot study in an Algona commercial area, which will contribute to the Feasibility Study.

We develop a cleanup action plan using information gathered in the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. The plan specifies the selected cleanup option, cleanup standards, and methods. It describes the steps to be taken, including any additional environmental monitoring required during and after the cleanup, and the schedule.

Implementation of the Cleanup Action Plan includes design, construction, operations, and monitoring. A site may be taken off the Hazardous Sites List after cleanup is completed and we determine cleanup standards have been met.

1966 - mid 1980s: TCE in use

Boeing used trichloroethene (TCE) as a degreasing solvent to clean metal parts.

1990s: Early investigation

Boeing began investigating the soil and groundwater at the facility

Mid 1990s: TCE release documented

Boeing documented and notified Ecology of a prior release of TCE at the facility.

2002: Agreed order

Ecology and Boeing signed an agreed order to investigate potential and actual releases at the facility, in compliance with state law.

2003: Investigation begins

Under our direction, Boeing began the study of the contamination (remedial investigation).

2005: Interim action

High levels of contamination on the Boeing property prompted us to require an interim cleanup of the degreaser at the location of Building 17-05 (the building has been torn down) to bring TCE concentrations below state cleanup levels. This interim action will not be the final cleanup.

2006: Agreed order amendment

Ecology and Boeing amended the agreed order, in compliance with state law, to include property ownership transitions.

2009: Investigation off property

We directed Boeing to investigate for contaminated groundwater beyond the Boeing property boundary.

2011: Contamination found off property

Boeing found contamination beyond their property boundaries; we notified water districts and cities of Algona, Auburn, and Pacific.

2012: Drinking water is safe

The Department of Health published a report confirming that the public drinking water systems are safe.

2013: Public meetings

We held public meetings in Algona to discuss the investigation progress and air quality testing.

2015: Feasibility study

Boeing started a pilot project in commercial Algona to test potential cleanup methods. As they gather information on methods that may be effective, they will propose solutions for cleanup of the impacted areas.

2017: Draft remedial investigation report & comment period

Boeing prepared a draft report based on their findings from the remedial investigation. We held a public comment period on that report in April 2017. Boeing revised the report and resubmitted it. We approved the revised Remedial Investigation in September 2017. 

2019: Cleanup action plan

We will propose a cleanup action plan for the site.

2020: Cleanup implemented

Boeing will implement a cleanup plan approved by Ecology, after public comment.

Ongoing: Monitoring

We will review Boeing's monitoring of the cleanup to ensure it is effective and protects human health and the environment.

In parts of Auburn and Algona, groundwater is contaminated with a degreaser called trichloroethene (TCE) and its breakdown products. It is believed that the chemicals originated from Boeing’s Auburn facility. The contaminated groundwater flows north and northwest away from the Boeing property under portions of northeast Algona and southwest Auburn. To date, the chemicals in the contaminated groundwater have been found at low levels that are not expected to pose a risk to human health and the environment. If future testing found levels that posed an immediate risk, Ecology would direct Boeing to take action to protect residents in the area.
 

We don’t have reason to believe that the contamination came from a single release or spill. TCE was used at the facility from 1966 until the early 1980s, so Boeing believes the contamination occurred during this timeframe. Use of TCE at the facility was phased out by the mid-1980s, so there is no risk of additional contamination coming from the facility.

Ecology and Boeing signed an agreement in 2002 and have since been working to understand the contamination and develop a plan for cleanup. In 2009, Ecology discovered that the contamination had spread beyond the Boeing property and directed the company to expand its sampling to determine how far the plumes had spread.

Boeing’s cleanup must follow Washington's cleanup process. This requires a thorough investigation of the contamination and of potential cleanup options. So far, the focus of the project has been the first phase of that process, called the Remedial Investigation, in which we studied the type and extent of the contamination. The size and complexity of the contaminated area added to the work needed to complete the investigation. The next step will be developing a feasibility study, which will review potential options to clean up the contamination. As this work goes on, Boeing continues to test both groundwater and surface water at the site under our supervision. 

In 2002, Boeing conducted a pilot study to test bioremediation on a site beneath one of its buildings found to have very high levels of TCE. The pilot project reduced levels of TCE and related chemicals to within federal drinking water standards.

Yes. The water in homes and businesses in the area comes from public water systems that are regularly monitored by the Washington State Department of Health. The contamination discovered to date does not affect drinking water wells, and the groundwater in the area flows away from existing wells. Testing by the Department of Health has not detected any chemicals of concern. Private wells in the area are not monitored by the Department of Health. Contact Ecology if you have a private well.
 

Yes. We have studied garden sites in the area and found that the fruits and vegetables growing in them do not pose a threat to people. The chemicals do not build up in the plant or fruit tissue.

TCE and its breakdown products are colorless and odorless at the concentrations found in groundwater and surface water. The sheen of rainbow colored oil sometimes seen in ditches is likely from bacteria commonly found in wetlands.