The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking public input on plans to clean up contamination from the former Columbia Gorge Aluminum smelter. A portion of the site is the proposed location to build the Goldendale Energy Storage Project.
State law requires removing and containing the contamination at the site regardless of whether the proposed energy project is constructed. If the project is not developed, remediation for this section of the property would be incorporated into another cleanup plan for the site.
“Our number one priority is restoring the environment and removing toxic chemicals left over from the facility,” said Peter Lyon, who manages Ecology’s industrial permitting program that is responsible for regulating cleanup work at the site. “That is our goal at every cleanup site, and it does not change based on a location’s potential for redevelopment. This site is no exception.”
The pumped storage project, proposed by FFP Project 101, would generate electricity by controlling the flow of water between an uphill and downhill reservoir. The lower reservoir would be located on part of the former smelter property.
Lyon said that Ecology is negotiating a legal agreement with FFP Project 101 that requires the developer to invest additional resources for a faster, more expansive cleanup process than the minimum required by state law.
Located next to the Columbia River near Goldendale, the smelter processed construction materials from the early 1970s until its closure in 2003. Its operations left contaminants like fluoride and heavy metals in both groundwater and soil. Since 2014, Ecology has worked with landowner NSC Smelter, LLC and past facility operator Lockheed Martin to clean up the contamination under an agreed order. Both parties are currently working with Ecology to draft cleanup plans for the remainder of the site.
This comment period does not influence construction of the proposed pumped storage project, which is authorized by a separate hydropower license. That license was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Jan. 22, 2026. It requires FFP Project 101 to finalize a cleanup plan with Ecology’s approval by Jan. 22, 2027.
From April 30 to June 16, 2026, Ecology is accepting comments on the proposed cleanup plan and the legal agreement requiring FFP Project 101 to implement the cleanup plan on its portion of the site.
Comments may be submitted through this online form or by mail to:
Dave Johnson, Site Manager
WA State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
The draft cleanup plan and related documents can be viewed online or in person at:
Goldendale Community Library
131 W Burgen Street
Goldendale, WA 98620
Ecology Lacey Office (by appointment only)
300 Desmond Dr SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360-280-4325
The cleanup plan for FFP Project 101 is one of three proposed to guide cleanup work across the former smelter site. Later in 2026 and 2027, Ecology will hold additional comment periods for the other two cleanup plans, one for a separate project proposed on another section of the property, and a third plan covering sitewide cleanup activities.