Hardel Mutual Plywood cleanup, Olympia

The Hardel Mutual Plywood cleanup site in Olympia has been used for wood milling since the late 1800s. Hardel Mutual Plywood operated at this site from 1951 to 1996. Wood milling released hazardous substances into the environment. Hardel signed a legal agreement with Ecology in 2007 and cleaned up the site in 2010. In 2012, Ecology listed the cleanup as complete.

West Bay Development Group bought the property from Hardel in 2021. They discovered areas of contamination in soil and groundwater that were not found in the earlier cleanup work. Therefore, this site needs more cleanup to protect human health and the environment. 

We invite your review and comment on two documents relating to the site's re-entry into the cleanup process.

The cleanup site in Olympia has been used for wood milling since the late 1800s. Hardel Mutual Plywood (Hardel) operated at this site from 1951 to 1996. Wood milling released hazardous substances into the environment.

Hardel signed a legal agreement with Ecology in 2007 and cleaned up the site in 2010. In 2012, Ecology listed the cleanup as complete.

West Bay Development Group (West Bay) bought the property from Hardel in 2021. West Bay discovered areas of contamination in soil and groundwater that were not found in the earlier cleanup work.

Therefore, this site needs more cleanup to protect human health and the environment. We invite your review and comment on two documents relating to the site’s re-entry into the cleanup process.

• Agreed Order DE 21726 is a legal agreement between Ecology and West Bay. The agreed order requires West Bay, the potentially liable party responsible for investigation and cleanup of this site, to:
  • Study the site to understand what kind of contamination is at the site, and where it is.
  • Use that information to compare different options for how to clean up the site.
  • Suggest a cleanup option to Ecology.
• The Public Participation Plan is Ecology’s plan for outreach. It has information on how we will reach out to the public about this cleanup project, and how the public can share input with us.