Cleaning up contaminated sediment in Washington

Guidance for cleaning up contaminated sediment

• The Sediment Cleanup User’s Manual (SCUM) provides guidance for:
  • Cleaning up sediment contaminated by chemicals.
  • Sediment sampling for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted facilities.
  • Risk-based Cleanup Levels Calculation Spreadsheets (SCUM Appendix K)
• Wood Waste Cleanup Guidance is guidance for cleaning up sediment contaminated by wood waste.
• Sustainable Remediation: climate change resiliency and green remediation is a guide to help cleanup project managers make cleanup sites more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Other technical information about contaminated sediment cleanup

• Sediment Technical Resources page
• Sediment Management Annual Review Meetings (SMARM)
• Puget Sound Estuary Protocols

Sediment studies

Regional background

Regional background includes chemical concentrations in sediment that are from diffuse sources, like stormwater, rather than a specific source. This is a concept in the SMS rule that can be used to set sediment cleanup levels. It can also help evaluate cleanup options, and identify potential areas for cleanup in the future. Regional background is set for a specific area, like an embayment or a lake. We have set regional background in these areas:

• Bellingham Bay (City of Bellingham)
• Port Gardner Bay (City of Everett)
• Lake Washington Area (City of Seattle)
• North Olympic Peninsula and Port Angeles Bay
• South Puget Sound

Baywide studies

As part of the Puget Sound Initiative, we've completed baywide sediment studies to help with our cleanup work:

• Budd Inlet
• Port Gardner Bay
• Oakland Bay (City of Shelton)
• Port Angeles Bay
• Port Gamble Bay
• Fidalgo Bay (City of Anacortes)

Marine Monitoring Program

We evaluate the health of six urban bays in Puget Sound as part of our long-term Marine Sediment Monitoring Program.

Ecology’s sediment data

• Environmental Information Management System and MyEIM
• EIM Data Submittal Requirements

Other sediment-related work at Ecology

Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP)

The DMMP includes Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Seattle District), Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 10). This program manages the in-water dredging and disposal of marine sediment. This could be from navigation channels, restoration sites, and cleanup sites in Puget Sound or along the Pacific coastline.

For information on the Dredged Material Management Program, contact:

• Ecology’s Shorelands and Environmental Assessment Program
• The Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District
• Washington Department of Natural Resources

Regional Sediment Evaluation Team (RSET)

The RSET includes Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Portland District), Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 10), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries Service. This program manages the dredging and in-water management of sediment in freshwater. This could be from navigation channels, restoration sites, and cleanup sites.

For information on the Regional Sediment Evaluation Team, contact:

• Ecology’s Shorelands and Environmental Assessment Program
• Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
• Washington Department of Natural Resources

Ecology’s Environmental Assessment Program

• Marine Sediment Ambient Monitoring
• Laboratory Accreditation

Ecology’s Water Quality Program

• Water Quality Assessment (303d), Contaminated Sediment Listings
• Water Quality Standards and Monitoring
• Stormwater permit