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.
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
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.
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

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