Superfund Sites in Reuse in Washington
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Alcoa (Vancouver Smelter)
The 300-acre Alcoa (Vancouver Smelter) Superfund site is next to the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington. The former Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) built an aluminum smelter on part of the site in 1940. Alcoa ran the facility until 1985. From 1973 to 1981, operators dumped tons of potliner containing cyanide and fluoride on the ground outside the smelter. The dumping contaminated soil and groundwater. In 1990, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). The state worked with Alcoa to dispose of the hazardous soil, making the riverfront property available for use. EPA took the site off the NPL in 1996. In 2002, Evergreen Aluminum (Glencore) purchased the facility, with Alcoa retaining ownership of some of the land. In 2009, the Port of Vancouver purchased about 218 acres of the land. The purchase allowed the port to develop Terminal 5, its newest marine terminal. Terminal 5 hosts long-term storage and rail loading. A petroleum product wholesaler and a county jail work center are also active on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 3 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 20 people and generated an estimated $22,540,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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American Crossarm & Conduit Co.
The 16-acre American Crossarm & Conduit Co. Superfund site is in Chehalis, Washington. The facility dumped wastewater contaminated with wood-treating chemicals, fuels and solvents into an unlined pit. This activity, combined with periodic flooding from nearby rivers, spread hazardous wastes onto nearby properties and contaminated groundwater. In 1989, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Cleanup actions included removing contaminated soil, demolishing contaminated structures, removing oil from groundwater and covering excavated areas with clean soil. An EPA cleanup lien on the site presented a reuse barrier to developers. In the late 1990s, EPA agreed to remove the lien on the condition that any new owners add fill so the property is out of the floodplain. Owners must also not dig into the site’s cap, use the groundwater or sell the property without transferring the land use restrictions. This agreement made redevelopment possible. A new structure was built on site in 1998. In 2020, EPA determined that no further cleanup actions were necessary and took the site off the NPL. Commercial businesses are now on site. They include a children’s education facility, a fitness center and a repair shop. An industrial facility, homes and wetlands are also on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 10 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 48 people and generated an estimated $2,873,241 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Boeing Company Tulalip Test Site
The 525-acre Boeing Company Tulalip Test site lies within the Tulalip Tribes Indian Reservation in Marysville, Washington. The U.S. Department of Defense condemned and purchased the property for U.S. Army Ammunition Storage and training purposes during World War II. In 1949, the U.S. Government sold the land back to the Tulalip Tribes,, who then leased the depot site to the U.S. Army and later to Boeing Company. The Boeing Company used the site from 1954 to 1999 as a test location for aviation and rocket components for military and commercial applications. Activities during that time contaminated groundwater and soil with hazardous chemicals. The site is not on the National Priorities List (NPL) but is an NPL-caliber site and is being addressed through the Superfund Alternative Approach. Investigations and cleanup activities are ongoing. Due to the large size of the site and multiple different locations of contamination, there is not a one-size-fits-all reuse plan. Some locations are likely to be restored as a wetland conservation area, while others are being considered for development. No official development plans have been announced by the Tribes to date. EPA is working closely with the Tulalip Tribes and Boeing to prepare the site for Reuse.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Bremerton Gasworks
The 2.8-acre Bremerton Gas Works Superfund site is in Bremerton, Washington, along the Port Washington Narrows in Puget Sound. From 1930 to 1963, a manufactured gas plant (MGP) produced gas for lighting and heating. After its operations ended, other industrial operations took place on site, including metal fabrication, concrete forming and boat repair. Industrial activity on site contaminated soil, sediments and groundwater. In August 2010, community members reported surface water sheen on the Port Washington Narrows near the former MGP. Kitsap County Health Department investigations identified a concrete pipe as the source of the sheen. In October 2010, Cascade Natural Gas (CNG) identified itself as a potentially responsible party and signed an Administrative Order to implement response actions at the site. By November 2010, CNG had plugged the pipe and placed an organoclay mat over impacted sediment. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2012. EPA oversees the ongoing long-term cleanup of the site by CNG. Federally protected steelhead trout and chinook salmon live near the site. The area is also used as a sport and commercial fishery, as well as for subsistence fishing by the Suquamish Tribe. A marina with 80 boat slips is also on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. EPA did not have further economic details related to these businesses. For additional information click here.
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Centralia Municipal Landfill
The 87-acre Centralia Municipal Landfill Superfund site is in Centralia, Washington. From 1958 to 1994, the landfill accepted municipal and industrial wastes, including soil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), paint waste and pesticide waste. Landfill operations contaminated groundwater and surface water. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. The site’s long-term remedy included groundwater and surface water monitoring and operation and maintenance of the final landfill cover system. Remedy construction took place in 1999. Monitoring is ongoing. In 1994, the Lewis County Central Transfer Station facility was built on site. It includes an administrative office building and a waste management facility.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 15 people and generated an estimated $2,538,462 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Commencement Bay, Near Shore/Tide Flats
The Commencement Bay, Nearshore/Tide Flats Superfund site is in the cities of Tacoma and Ruston, Washington. It includes a commercial seaport at the southern end of Puget Sound, with 10 to 12 square miles of shallow water, shoreline and adjoining land. There is a U.S. Army reserve center located between the Hylebos and Blair waterways. The site also includes the former Asarco Tacoma Smelter Facility and Breakwater Peninsula, the Tacoma Tar Pits, contaminated sediments offshore of the smelter, and residential yards of Tacoma and Ruston contaminated by smelter emissions. The site’s tidal areas support recreational and tribal fisheries. Beginning in the late 1800s, shipbuilding, oil refining, chemical manufacturing and storage, lead and copper smelting and other industrial activities took place at the site. These activities resulted in contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment. In 1983, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA began working with the state of Washington’s Department of Ecology and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians on the investigation and cleanup plan in the 1980s. The cleanup plan was issued in 1989. Ecology oversaw the cleanup of the St. Paul Waterway prior to the cleanup plan. The cleanup restored 11 acres of shallow marine habitat for ecological reuse. The Port of Tacoma performed the first cleanup action at the Sitcum Waterway part of the bay. These activities resulted in newly available land on the Milwaukee Waterway. The additional space allowed for the expansion of a land-sea marine terminal facility. The expansion helped make the Port of Tacoma the seventh-largest container port in the nation. Cleanup activities in the Hylebos and Thea Foss Waterways were performed in the early 2000s. Cleanup activities also allowed for redevelopment, including construction of the Museum of Glass and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass public art project, residential units, restaurants and park space, as well as restoration of 70 acres of coastal habitat. EPA continues to work with landowners and local governments to coordinate cleanup plans with the community’s future land use goals. In 2006, Point Ruston, LLC purchased the Asarco Tacoma Smelter Facility property and agreed to take over its cleanup and redevelopment. The developer coordinated with EPA on site development and remedial capping efforts. Buildings and hard surfaces serve as part of the site’s capped area, and connect to the surrounding multi-layer cap. The Point Ruston development includes commercial, public, residential and recreation areas. Condominiums, restaurants and stores as well as parks and waterfront walkways are now open on site. EPA also partnered with Metro Parks Tacoma to clean up and support the redevelopment of the 23-acre Breakwater Peninsula. Metro Parks Tacoma built a public park over the capped area in July 2019. Cleanup efforts are complete across the former Asarco Tacoma Smelter Facility; however, development of some areas is still ongoing. The Washington Department of Ecology and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department partnered with EPA to clean up contaminated soils in private yards and public areas, including schools, playgrounds and parks, near the former smelter. To date, the cleanup has addressed more than 3,000 properties.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 638 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 15,263 people and generated an estimated $4,043,258,365 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Superfund Site Profile Page
- Restoring and Revitalizing Waterfront Resources: Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway: The Commencement Bay Near Shore/Tide Flats Superfund Site in Tacoma, Washington (PDF)
Commencement Bay, South Tacoma Channel
The Commencement Bay, South Tacoma Channel Superfund site is in Tacoma, Washington. It spans 2.5 square miles and consists of three separate project areas – the South Tacoma Field, the Tacoma Landfill and Well 12A. Since 1982, site activities have included the operation of a landfill, rail car manufacturing, repair and maintenance, waste oil reprocessing, and operation of two foundries in support of the local railroad. Site activities and improper waste disposal contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The South Tacoma Field area covers 260 acres. Burlington Northern Railroad used it for rail car manufacturing, repair and maintenance from 1892 to 1974. Two metal workshops were also in the area to support railroad operations. Tacoma City Light has been active on the north end of South Tacoma Field since 1953. Cleanup included soil removal and capping, development restrictions and monitoring of natural processes to clean up groundwater. Several commercial and industrial businesses are active on the southern half of South Tacoma Field area. In 2021, a large part, 150 acres) of the South Tacoma Field area were conveyed to Bridge Point Tacoma, LLC. The Tacoma Landfill area covers about 240 acres. The city of Tacoma began operating the landfill in 1960. It has accepted municipal, industrial, construction, demolition and bulk wastes. In 2017, the landfill closed. Cleanup included landfill capping, management of landfill gas and treatment of groundwater. Uses at the former landfill include a refuse compaction/transfer center, a household hazardous waste facility, a recycling center, an environmental education facility and solid waste management offices. The Well 12A area includes the former Time Oil Company and area surrounding municipal water supply Well 12A. Cleanup of the Well 12A area started in 1983. It addresses soil and groundwater contamination from several small businesses in the vicinity of the city of Tacoma’s municipal water supply. Cleanup has included wellhead treatment, digging up of contaminated soils, heating of soil and groundwater to remove solvents and petroleum, and biological treatment to remove solvents in groundwater. In 2019, the Well 12A project received an Honor Award for Environmental Sustainability from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists. The Academy recognized the project for its coordination among several agencies as well as design innovations and efficiencies. Well 12A continues to provide drinking water for the city. Several small businesses above the contaminated groundwater, including a moving-and-storage company, remain active on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 20 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 532 people and generated an estimated $123,000,803 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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FMC Corp. (Yakima)
The 4-acre FMC Corp. (Yakima) Superfund site is in Yakima, Washington. A pesticide formulation facility was on site from 1951 to 1986. From 1952 to 1969, FMC disposed of agricultural pesticides in a pit on site. Its activities contaminated groundwater and soil with pesticides. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Under an EPA order, FMC disposed of about 850 tons of contaminated soil off site in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, EPA required that FMC remove and incinerate contaminated soils on site. FMC completed cleanup in 1993. Land use controls on part of the site prevent exposure to remaining soil and groundwater contamination. A building materials supply store and a hardware and garden store are now on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 14 people and generated an estimated $1,934,240 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: FMC Corp. (Yakima Pit) Superfund Site (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Frontier Hard Chrome, Inc.
The half-acre Frontier Hard Chrome, Inc. Superfund site is in Vancouver, Washington. From 1958 to 1970, Pioneer Plating ran a chrome plating business on site. Frontier Hard Chrome also ran a chrome plating business on site from 1970 to 1983. Disposal practices resulted in the chromium contamination of soil and groundwater. In 1982, officials found contamination in an industrial supply well about a quarter mile from the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included soil treatment, natural attenuation of groundwater, institutional controls, and groundwater monitoring. After cleanup, EPA took the site off the NPL in 2018. In spring 2018, an industrial contractor opened a 65,000-square-foot pipe fabrication facility and company offices at the site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 30 people and generated an estimated $3,791,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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General Electric Co. (Spokane Apparatus Service Shop)
The General Electric Co. (Spokane Apparatus Service Shop) Superfund site is in Spokane, Washington. It covers less than 2 acres. It includes the General Electric property as well as several industrial properties to the north and west. From 1961 to 1980, General Electric cleaned and repaired electrical transformers on site. General Electric stored PCB-contaminated waste oils at the site and disposed of them in on site dry wells connected to the sewer. These activities contaminated surface soils and groundwater with PCBs. Northwesterly groundwater flow transported PCB contamination to other properties. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Cleanup activities, managed by the Washington Department of Ecology, included removal of more than 27,000 tons of soil. Long-term groundwater monitoring began in 1994. It is ongoing. The former General Electric property is now vacant. Two auto-repair shops remain active on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 5 people and generated an estimated $34,180 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Grain Handling Facility At Freeman
The 1-acre Grain Handling Facility at Freeman Superfund site is in Freeman, Washington. It is a carbon tetrachloride and chloroform groundwater plume that generally flows to the southwest. Contamination most likely came from a grain-handling facility that used carbon tetrachloride to deter rodents. Chloroform is a byproduct of the breakdown of carbon tetrachloride. Sampling first detected groundwater contamination in a primary water supply well for the Freeman School District in January 2001. Continued monitoring found that contamination levels repeatedly exceeded safe drinking water standards. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2015. EPA has not yet selected a remedy. As an interim action, point-of-entry water treatment systems were installed in school buildings and affected homes in 2016. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Department of Ecology) manages the site. In February 2021, the Department of Ecology released its responsiveness summary, addressing public comments pertaining to the State’s Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. Ecology is working on a Cleanup Action Plan based on guidelines in the Model Toxics Control Act. The grain-handling facility remains active on site. Other site uses include the Freeman School District and several homes.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
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Hamilton/Labree Roads GW Contamination
The Hamilton/Labree Roads Groundwater (GW) Contamination Superfund site (“Site”) consists of two operable units (OUs): OU1, known as the Hamilton Road Impact Area (HRIA), and OU2, which comprises the S.C. Breen Construction Company (Breen) Property, the Thurman Berwick Creek Area, and all other impacted areas outside of the HRIA. The Site is two (2) miles southwest of Chehalis, Washington. It includes about 21 acres of land southwest of U.S. Interstate 5 and along North Hamilton Road to its intersection with Labree Road. Spills and dumping in Berwick Creek as well as burying drums and other containers containing solvents contaminated soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater. In 1993, the Washington State Department of Health testing found contamination in six wells in the area. A removal action in 1999 included removing drums and associated contaminated soil, supplying bottled water to affected well owners, and connecting affected homes to the municipal water supply. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2000. EPA published the Interim Record of Decision in 2013 and cleanup began in 2020. EPA is the lead agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology is the support agency. Additional interim cleanup includes temporarily re-routing the creek around the contamination and treating contaminated sediment, soil and groundwater. Institutional controls are required to limit future land use. Monitoring, investigations and cleanup planning are ongoing. Sediment and soil excavations have been completed. Thermal treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater has been completed. Berwick Creek has been restored to its pre-project, free flowing condition. Native riparian vegetation was planted for bank stability. Performance monitoring continues and a final remedial action completion report is expected in Spring 2024. In conjunction with the cleanup underway at OU1, EPA is leading the remedial investigation and feasibility study at OU2 to collect information on downgradient sources and identify site-wide remedial action alternatives that will achieve long-term protection of human health and the environment. In December 2021, the Site was among those selected by EPA to receive cleanup funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). With this funding, EPA is already initiating work on backlogged remedial construction projects and accelerating cleanups at NPL sites. East of Labree Road and west of I-5, the site is primarily commercial. All other areas of the site west and northwest of Labree Road are primarily zoned for rural (i.e., residential) and agricultural uses. Current nearby affected land uses include a livestock market auction house with a cafe, a logging business, trucking company, as well as homes and farms.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 4 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 83 people and generated an estimated $14,112,720 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Harbor Island (Lead)
The Harbor Island (Lead) Superfund site is a manmade island in Seattle’s Elliott Bay. Built in the early 1900s from spoils from dredging by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the 420-acre island supports commercial and industrial activities, including ocean and rail transport facilities. Past operations contaminated groundwater, sediment and soil with lead and other contaminants. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. To manage cleanup, EPA divided the site into 10 operable units (OUs). Seven of the OUs are active. EPA has selected remedies for six of them. In 1991, the Port of Seattle expressed interest in expanding Terminal 18, which is on the east side of the island. Before the expansion, EPA required that the port and other responsible parties clean up the contamination. Under a legal agreement with EPA, the port demolished contaminated industrial buildings, removed most contaminated soils and began groundwater monitoring. It also paved much of the site to minimize the spread of contamination during storms. Other upgrades included road improvements and new sidewalks and bike paths. The cleanup allowed the Port to move ahead with a $300 million, 90-acre expansion of Terminal 18. The expansion included a dockside rail yard, two truck gates, a larger container storage yard and other amenities to improve goods-handling capabilities. In 2004, the site received a prestigious Phoenix Award for achievement of excellence in Superfund site reuse. A ship repair and construction facility that opened in 1916 and separate oil storage facilities remain active on the island. The ship repair and construction facility employs over 400 people. It used a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) extraction and treatment system for remaining underground petroleum contamination that started running in 2020. With EPA oversight, responsible parties removed contaminated marine sediments and subtidal debris. This past year the Vigor Shipyard (formerly the Todd Shipyard) completed an extensive habitat placement at their facility. The habitat also was consistent with a CERCLA Cap and this cap covered contamination exceeding Washington State Sediment Management Standards. This habitat will provide shelter for foraging juvenile salmonids. EPA has also recently released the Proposed Plan for an interim cleanup for the East Waterway Operable Unit. EPA expects to issue a Record of Decision for the interim cleanup in 2025. The potentially responsible party also plans to complete cleanup under the pier. EPA has finished more characterization of remaining marine sediments. Cleanup and habitat placement will make the sediments healthier for fish and mud-dwelling creatures. The site is in an area used for tribal and recreational fishing. A fish consumption advisory is in place for fish and shellfish from the Lower Duwamish Waterway. There is also a recommended limit on the amount of salmon that people eat from Puget Sound, including from the Duwamish River. Several marinas and parks on site provide recreation amenities.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 35 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 1,469 people and generated an estimated $781,012,062 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Hidden Valley Landfill (Thun Field)
The 92-acre Hidden Valley Landfill (Thun Field) Superfund site is in Puyallup, Washington. It includes a closed 56-acre unlined landfill, a closed 30-acre lined cell, a leachate pre-treatment facility, a gas-to-energy facility and a transfer station. The landfill opened in 1967. It accepted several types of waste from municipal, commercial and industrial sources. Environmental investigations from 1981 to 1985 found several contaminants, including nitrates, metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in April 1989. Cleanup included closure of the landfill and monitoring of gas and groundwater migration. A company continues to operate the leachate treatment station, gas-to-energy facility and transfer station on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 5 people and generated an estimated $978,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Lakewood
The 7-acre Lakewood Superfund site is in Lakewood, Washington. Plaza Cleaners ran a dry-cleaning business on site. Its activities contaminated soil and groundwater with solvents. In 1981, EPA identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Lakewood Water District supply wells. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included removal and off-site disposal of septic tank contents and sludge, backfilling of the area with clean material, soil vapor extraction to address contaminated soil, and groundwater use restrictions. In 1996, EPA took the soil operable unit (OU) off the NPL. Operation and maintenance activities and groundwater monitoring are ongoing. An electrical supply and lighting company now operates in the former dry-cleaning facility.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 19 people and generated an estimated $10,000,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Lockheed West Seattle
The Lockheed West Seattle Superfund site is on the southwestern shoreline of Elliott Bay in Seattle, Washington. The site is next to the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 and the West Waterway. It includes the former shipyard support operations area. The 40-acre site also includes about 7 acres of aquatic tidelands owned by the Port of Seattle and 33 acres of state-owned aquatic lands. Past shipbuilding practices at the former shipyard released contaminants into the bay. Before its transfer to the Superfund program, the state of Washington listed the site as a “sediment cleanup priority project” under state cleanup authority. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2007. EPA selected the site’s remedy in the site’s 2013 Record of Decision. Lockheed Martin Corporation began cleanup in 2018. Cleanup included dredging and disposing of contaminated sediments, institutional controls and long-term monitoring. Lockheed Martin completed cleanup in March 2020. After cleanup, tribal members from the Muckleshoot and Suquamish Tribes are expected to be able to continue harvesting seafood from around Harbor Island. EPA and Lockheed Martin coordinated with tribal members throughout the cleanup process. The West Waterway part of the site includes a federal navigation channel that remains in use. The Port of Seattle is expanding Terminal 5, including pier structures, as a container terminal along the West Waterway. The Port of Seattle began the $500 million expansion project in 2019 and completed it in 2022. Phase two of the expansion project is expected to be completed in 2023. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received congressional approval through the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 to proceed with deepening the navigation channel in both East and West Waterways. Deepening is authorized to 57 feet and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proceeding with the design of the West Waterway. Natural areas at the site support birds, crabs and fish, including salmon, as well as recreational uses, including net fishing, beach play and clamming.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Lower Duwamish Waterway
The Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site is a 5-mile stretch of the Duwamish River that flows into the East Waterway and West Waterway (part of the Harbor Island Superfund site) then into Elliott Bay in Seattle, Washington. The South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods and industrial corridors flank the waterway. A century of heavy industrial use left the waterway contaminated with toxic chemicals from many sources. In response to contamination in sediments, fish and shellfish, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2001. Local governments, the Port of Seattle and Boeing, collectively known as the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group, led investigations and early cleanup activities with oversight from EPA and the state. In 2014, EPA selected a cleanup plan that includes active sediment cleanup through dredging, capping and enhanced natural recovery over an estimated 177 acres. EPA continues to work with the liable parties on next steps implementing the cleanup plan. Part of the remedy includes institutional controls, such as covenants to protect sediment caps and provide information on safer seafood consumption choices. The Washington State Department of Health issued a seafood consumption advisory, focused on resident fish and shellfish, with fewer restrictions on salmon. The Lower Duwamish Waterway supports many uses. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the central part of the waterway as a federal navigation channel, enabling its use for bulk and container shipping, water-dependent businesses and moorage. Recreation enthusiasts use the waterway for boating, kayaking, fishing and beach play. It also provides habitat for fish, shellfish and wildlife. Native American tribes have treaty-protected rights to cultural uses and seafood harvest in the Lower Duwamish Waterway, including a tribally managed commercial salmon fishery. Many people from communities in the area, including communities with environmental justice concerns, also fish in the waterway. In 2020, the Port of Seattle broke ground on Duwamish River People’s Park. The park opened to the public in summer 2022. The park restores habitat and increases public access to the river. In addition to the park and the Boeing Plant 2 habitat restoration area across the waterway, other restoration sites are likely to be completed following completion of the ongoing Natural Resource injury assessment.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Makah Reservation Warmhouse Beach Dump
The Makah Reservation Warmhouse Beach Dump Superfund site is in the Makah Indian Reservation at the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Clallam County, Washington. It includes a former open dump and two streams that begin in the dump and flow to East Beach and Warmhouse Beach. From the 1970s to 2012, the dump accepted municipal and household solid and hazardous wastes. Waste disposal practices contaminated soil, sediments, surface water and groundwater with heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The Makah Tribe began monitoring surface water, sediment and groundwater around the dump in 2001. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2013. EPA’s ongoing investigations will identify the site’s cleanup needs. Current site uses include cultural, recreational and ecological areas.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Midnite Mine
The Midnite Mine Superfund site is on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. It includes a 350-acre inactive uranium mine and all areas affected by mine-related contamination. The mine was active from 1955 to 1981. Mining, transportation and environmental processes contaminated surface material, groundwater, surface water and sediment with radionuclides and heavy metals. Water sampling led several federal agencies to require that the mining company intercept and treat the contaminated water. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2000. Cleanup began in 2016. It is ongoing. Cleanup activities, managed by the potentially responsible parties with EPA oversight, include waste consolidation and containment, water collection and treatment, and long-term groundwater monitoring. In 2022, construction on the new water treatment plant started. The site includes areas of cultural importance to the Spokane Tribe. These areas include lands for hunting and foraging, a campground, and traditional activities such as sweat lodge ceremonies. The site is next to the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Midway Landfill
The 60-acre Midway Landfill Superfund site is in King County, Washington. The site is between U.S. Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 99. The former gravel quarry served as a municipal solid waste landfill from 1966 to 1983. It accepted demolition materials, wood waste and other slowly decomposing materials. In 1983, operators covered the landfill with silt and fine sands. In 1985, investigations found combustible gas in structures around the landfill and contaminated groundwater beyond the landfill boundary. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. In 1992, Seattle built a final cap over the site, refined landfill gas controls, and put in a stormwater and drainage control system. These remedy components continue to function as planned. Washington State’s Department of Ecology is the lead agency for the site. The Washington Department of Transportation uses part of the site, located in a right of way, for a U.S. Interstate 5 road-widening project. Sound Transit, the area’s public transit system, is extending its Link light rail system on the eastern edge of the landfill. Construction of the light rail is nearly complete and the transit system is expected to begin operations in 2026. The rest of the site remains a closed landfill and unused open space.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Moses Lake Wellfield Contamination
The Moses Lake Wellfield Contamination Superfund site is in the city of Moses Lake, Washington. It covers about 15 square miles. The site includes parts of the former Larson Air Force Base, Grant County Airport and some areas south of the airport. The U.S. government established Larson Air Force Base in 1942 and closed it in 1965. During this period, the U.S. Air Force, the Boeing Company (Boeing), and the Strategic Air Command and Titan Missile program used the base at various times. Former base operations and associated industrial activities contaminated soil and about 1,000 acres of groundwater with hazardous chemicals. In 1966, the Port of Moses Lake acquired most of the former base. It has since operated Grant County International Airport on the property. Housing associated with the base also remains in use. It is now owned by the Grant County Housing Authority. The U.S. Air Force transferred other facilities to Big Bend Community College. In 1968, Boeing returned to the airport, purchasing 130 acres that included the Three-Place Hangar. In 1988, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and a private water company, Skyline Water System, Inc., found TCE in two water supply wells. In 1992, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) because of soil and groundwater contamination. In 2003, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed a replacement water supply well for the nearby Skyline residential water system. The well continues to provide reliable, clean drinking water to the Skyline community. A 2008 EPA interim cleanup plan required installation of groundwater pump-and-treat systems for one of five known areas of groundwater contamination and consideration of treatment at two remaining groundwater plumes. EPA’s contractor is sampling private residential wells and maintaining whole-house filters to protect residents’ health. The cleanup design for the South Base Dump area is complete and EPA removed soil in 2019. for a central pump and treatment system at the South Groundwater Plume area is in place. EPA put in a groundwater treatment system to remove contamination. It began operating in 2020. In 2020, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program (SRP) also began supporting a reuse planning project at the site. The project includes interviewing local stakeholders to identify redevelopment barriers and reuse support strategies. EPA will use this information to help inform the cleanup and support reuse outcomes at the site. Continued site uses include commercial, industrial and recreational uses, including biking, parks and athletic fields.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 3 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 156 people and generated an estimated $44,120,300 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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North Market Street
The 50-acre North Market Street Superfund site is in Spokane, Washington. The Phillips Petroleum Company, the Tosco Refining Company and Chevron ran a petroleum refining and distribution complex at the site starting in the 1980s. Industrial activities and mishandling led to major oil spill incidents in 1985, 1989 and 1990. These spills contaminated soil and groundwater with petroleum and chemicals. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Cleanup included soil excavation, on-site soil treatment and passive groundwater cleanup. Cleanup finished in 2002. Spokane County set land use restrictions for the site. Holly Refining & Marketing Company now operates an industrial fuel distribution facility on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 6 people and generated an estimated $71,201,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Northside Landfill
The Northside Landfill Superfund site is on a 345-acre parcel of land in Spokane, Washington. Established as a city landfill in 1931, the landfill was the largest refuse disposal operation in Spokane County. Open burning took place at the landfill until the mid-1950s. The city of Spokane (the City) found hazardous chemicals in the groundwater at the site in 1982. Later, these chemicals were found in residential wells near the landfill. The City extended municipal water supplies to the area in 1984. In 1986, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL). In 1989, EPA selected a cleanup approach for the landfill. It included closing and capping old landfill units, treating and monitoring groundwater, collecting landfill gas, and restricting land use. The City closed the old landfill units and completed the landfill caps by 1993. That same year, the City began long-term treatment of groundwater and has since put in an active waste disposal cell that meets all new state landfill requirements. The landfill is currently still closed to the public for use. The City plans to continue operations at this landfill until all remaining landfill cells reach capacity. EPA has discontinued groundwater pumping and treatment from the pilot extraction well. The Washington State Department of Ecology requires continued monitoring of the site perimeter and nearby residential wells in accordance with solid waste rules and regulations. City groundwater monitoring results show that drinking water standards have been met. Ongoing operation and maintenance activities are required for the landfill cap and EPA will continue to conduct remedy reviews every five years to ensure it remains protective. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 2020. EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program (SRP) supported a regional seed project at the site in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate reuse opportunities, including the feasibility of a solar energy facility. The feasibility study found that the site can support a 25-acre, 4-megawatt-capacity solar array. The Spokane Streets Department currently uses the site to store sand for treating roads during snowstorms.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 6 people. For additional information click here.
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Northwest Transformer (South Harkness Street)
The 1-acre Northwest Transformer (South Harkness Street) Superfund site is in Everson, Washington. The Northwest Transformer Service Company ran a transformer reclamation, storage and manufacturing facility on site until filing for bankruptcy in 1987. Manufacturing activities and waste disposal practices contaminated soil with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals. In 1990, EPA added the site on the National Priorities List (NPL). In 1992, EPA began working closely with local government officials, the site’s potentially responsible parties and nearby residents to develop cleanup and reuse plans for the 1-acre property. By 1995, the potentially responsible parties had removed the contaminated soil and constructed a new parking lot. EPA took the site off the NPL in 1997. Today, the site provides much-needed parking space for the nearby town hall and an adjacent senior center.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Oeser Co.
The 47-acre Oeser Co. Superfund site is in a mixed residential and industrial area in Bellingham, Washington. It includes the 26-acre Oeser Company (Oeser) property, an active wood-treating facility, and the 21-acre Little Squalicum Creek Area, which includes Little Squalicum Park. Since 1943, Oeser has prepared and treated wood poles for utility companies on the property. Treating practices resulted in soil, sediment and groundwater contaminated with various chemicals, including dioxin. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1997. In 2003, Oeser began removing or capping contaminated soils, placing use controls to limit groundwater use and non-industrial land use, and monitoring groundwater. Oeser completed the cleanup actions in 2009. In 2010, Oeser initiated cleanup of the creek area. Due to a lack of funds, EPA took over and completed cleanup of the creek area in 2011. Cleanup included the restoration of creek and wetland habitats, and the restoration and reopening of Little Squalicum Park. Groundwater and stormwater monitoring as well as cap maintenance are ongoing. The restored park includes trails, interpretive displays and parking. The trails connect the site to the larger Bay-to-Baker Trail network, which connects Bellingham to Mount Baker. EPA and the city of Bellingham enhanced bicycling and walking paths in the park with a new layer of crushed limestone. Little Squalicum Creek also meanders through the site. The city of Bellingham contributed to park restoration by revegetating stream banks with native plants and wetland shrubs, including native red alder, cottonwood, cedar and maple tree seedlings. The mature trees will help stabilize stream banks. Restoration work also included invasive plant removal. Migratory birds, including peregrine falcons and bald eagles, and other wildlife species now make their home in Little Squalicum Park. In 2014, EPA Region 10 recognized the beneficial reuse of Little Squalicum Park and the continued use of the Oeser wood-treating facility with its Howard Orlean Excellence in Site Reuse award.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 29 people and generated an estimated $920,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Site Redevelopment Profile: Oeser Company Superfund Site (PDF)
- EPA Region 10 Howard Orlean Excellence in Site Reuse Award
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Old Inland Pit
The 10-acre Old Inland Pit Superfund site is in Spokane, Washington. From 1969 to 1978, a company dug up sand and gravel from the pit. A neighboring steel foundry company east of the pit disposed of waste foundry sands and about 200 tons of baghouse dust in the pit from 1978 to 1986. Environmental investigations starting in 1983 found toxic metals and organic chemicals from the foundry waste in the soil. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. Based on the results of a 1998 investigation, a restrictive covenant limits property uses to industrial uses. No other actions were required. After cleanup, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1999. A heavy machinery equipment dealership is now active on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 25 people and generated an estimated $32,630,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Pacific Car & Foundry Co.
The 82-acre Pacific Car & Foundry Co. Superfund site is in Renton, Washington. The Pacific Car & Foundry Company (PACCAR) began making rail cars at its facility on site in 1907. Later, the company made Sherman tanks and other military vehicles during World War II. Activities causing environmental concerns included industrial landfilling, fuel and solvent storage, and galvanizing operations. In 1986, PACCAR found heavy metal contamination in soil and shallow groundwater from its industrial activities. PACCAR decommissioned the facility in 1988. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in February 1990. The Washington Department of Ecology oversaw cleanup activities, which took place in five phases from 1991 to 1997. Cleanup included soil treatment and containment and surface water and groundwater monitoring. The site is in industrial use. A facility makes trucks on the north part of the site.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 500 people and generated an estimated $351,009,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Pacific Sound Resources
The Pacific Sound Resources Superfund site is on the south shore of Elliott Bay on the Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington. It was formerly known as the Wyckoff West Seattle Wood Treating facility. The site encompasses 83 acres, 58 acres of which are capped marine sediments. The surrounding areas are primarily commercial and industrial. From 1909 to 1994, a wood-treating facility on site released creosote and related hazardous contaminants into the ground and marine environment. Contaminants eventually seeped into the adjacent sediments. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. Cleanup actions removed soil, dredged sediment, constructed an upland slurry wall, and placed a 25-acre asphalt cap in the upland and a 58-acre sand cap over marine sediments. The Port of Seattle purchased the upland property in 1994. The Port included the property as part of the Port’s efforts to construct a modern container terminal facility in West Seattle. With EPA oversight, the Port implemented several early cleanup actions to support this redevelopment, stabilizing releases from the site and preparing it for reuse. The Port currently uses the southern part of the upland property as part of its container terminal facility. It is one of the Port’s largest and most efficient container cargo shipment facilities. The Port is upgrading the facility to accommodate more ships. EPA coordinated with the Port on its efforts to redevelop the northern part of the upland property into a waterfront park, known as Jack Block Park. In 2015, public access opened to beach areas at the park. The park provides trails, a 45-foot observation tower, a children’s play area, boating facilities, access to Elliott Bay, and views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound. Routine operation and maintenance activities and monitoring are ongoing.
Last updated December 2023
As of December 2023, EPA had data on 2 on-site businesses. EPA did not have further economic details related to these businesses. For additional information click here.
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Palermo Well Field Ground Water Contamination
The 150-acre Palermo Well Field Ground Water Contamination Superfund site is in Tumwater, Washington. It consists of three identified sources and corresponding plumes. In 1993, sampling found contamination in three city drinking water wells. Sources include former and current Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) facilities and a dry cleaner. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1997. Cleanup activities included putting in a system to extract vapor from soil beneath the dry-cleaning facility, using an air stripper to treat drinking water, putting in an underground drainage system, and monitoring air in houses above the contaminated groundwater. EPA is working with WSDOT to see if more cleanup is necessary. Commercial, residential and recreational areas are on site. Government facilities such as the former and current WSDOT materials labs are also on site. The Palermo Well Field consists of several active water supply wells. They provide part of the drinking water supply for the city of Tumwater.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA had data on 3 on-site businesses. These businesses employed 39 people and generated an estimated $4,458,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Queen City Farms
The 324-acre Queen City Farms Superfund site is 2.5 miles north of Maple Valley, Washington and is immediately south of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. Previous site uses included a pig farm, an airport, a chemical repackaging operation and a waste disposal area for industrial chemicals from the Seattle area. From 1955 to the late 1960s, operators put industrial waste in two on-site ponds before burning the wastes and collecting drums. Sludge and residue remained in the ponds. Operators buried drums near the ponds. Chemicals leached from the ponds into groundwater. Operators also used the site for commercial gravel mining from the 1970s until the mid-1990s. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Queen City Farms, the current site owner, and The Boeing Company led cleanup activities in the 1980s and 1990s. EPA oversaw cleanup. Responsible parties removed and disposed of wastes and drums and built a containment area to secure wastes remaining at the site. Contaminated groundwater is recovering through monitored natural processes, extraction and treatment. Long-term groundwater monitoring is ongoing. In 2020, EPA took surface and subsurface site soils off the NPL. The groundwater part of the site remains on the NPL. Today, part of the site is undeveloped; it supports lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and wooded wildlife habitat areas. A regional composting business uses about 26 acres of the site to recycle organic materials into soil.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 5 people and generated an estimated $1,538,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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Quendall Terminals
The 23-acre Quendall Terminals Superfund site is on the southeast shore of Lake Washington in Renton, Washington. From 1916 to 1969, the Republic Creosoting Company and the Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation and its successor in interest made creosote at a facility on site. In 1971, Quendall Terminals, LLC purchased the site property. From 1969 to 1983, Quendall Terminals, LLC stored crude, waste and diesel oils on site. From 1975 to 2009, a log-sorting and storage yard was on site. These activities resulted in soil, groundwater, and sediment contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2006. Cleanup includes treatment of NAPL in soil which will reduce contaminant concentrations in groundwater and dredging, capping and enhanced natural recovery of sediments. The remedy also includes a 100-foot habitat buffer along the shoreline. In 2014, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program supported a reuse planning project at the site to develop recommendations regarding ways to make cleanup and future site uses compatible. Quendall Terminals, LLC, which has changed its name to Lake Washington East, plans to redevelop the site for commercial and residential uses. Part of the site extends into the nearby Lake Washington, which is a critical bull trout habitat.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Silver Mountain Mine
The 5-acre Silver Mountain Mine Superfund site is an abandoned silver and gold mine in Horse Springs Coulee, Washington. From 1902 to the 1960s, the Silver Mountain Mine operated periodically, producing small amounts of silver and gold. A mill was constructed on Site in 1952; it was never used and later demolished in 1977. The mill foundation remains on Site. From 1980 to 1981, Site operators used cyanide to extract gold and silver from the old ore tailings and by July 1981, operations ended. The Site was abandoned without cleanup. Mining activities at the Site contaminated soil and groundwater. In November 1981, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) investigated the Site and treated contamination left on the property. EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. EPA closed the mine entrance, placed a protective cap over the waste area, fenced the site off, and revegetated the cap. In 1997, EPA took the Site off the NPL and cattle continue to periodically utilize the site for drinking water. Ecology continues to inspect the site’s cap every two years.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Toftdahl Drums
The 15-acre Toftdahl Drums Superfund site is in Brush Prairie, Washington. In the early 1970s, the property owner cleaned drums for resale. During this time, the property owner reportedly had drums of industrial waste delivered to the property. Unsalvageable drums buried at the site contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. EPA and the state investigated the site and removed and disposed of all contaminated soils. After cleanup, EPA took the site off the NPL in 1988. Developers later built eight single-family homes on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Upper Columbia River
The Upper Columbia River site is in Washington State. It includes about 150 river miles of the Columbia River, from the U.S.‐Canada border to the Grand Coulee Dam. In August 1999, the Colville Confederated Tribes asked EPA to assess the Upper Columbia River. Their petition expressed concerns about potential risks posed by contamination in the river for people and the environment. The assessment found contamination in river sediment. Potential contamination sources include mining and milling, smelting, wood-product production, and municipal sewage treatment plants. EPA did not add the site to the National Priorities Listing (NPL) but it is subject to EPA remedial activities. Cleanup activities began in 2004, with soil removal at a former smelter and residential and community properties in the town of Northport. Teck American Incorporated (TAI), one of the site’s potentially responsible parties, led several cleanup actions along the Upper Columbia River. These efforts included the removal of about 9,100 tons of sediments containing granulated slag from Black Sand Beach in 2010. TAI also completed residential yard cleanups in Northport. In 2020, EPA completed the cleanup of 15 residential properties with lead contamination in Northport. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation received an EPA grant to install air monitors along the river in 2022. Continued uses at the site include recreational, residential and ecological areas.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Vancouver Water Station #1 Contamination
The Vancouver Water Station #1 Contamination Superfund site is in Vancouver, Washington. The wellfield on site supplies drinking water to about 230,000 people. In 1988, the city of Vancouver (the City) found traces of chemical dry-cleaning liquids in the wells. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994. In 1998, the City started running a groundwater treatment system that uses air-stripping techniques to separate contaminants from the water. After treatment, the City uses the groundwater as drinking water. EPA took the site off the NPL in 2018. All Superfund actions at the site have been completed and the site no longer poses unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. The site is part of Waterworks Park, a recreational use.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. EPA did not have further economic details related to this business. For additional information click here.
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Vancouver Water Station #4 Contamination
The half-acre Vancouver Water Station #4 Contamination Superfund site is in Vancouver, Washington. The well field is part of the city of Vancouver’s (the City’s) water supply system, which supplies drinking water to about 230,000 people. In 1988, the City found traces of chemical dry-cleaning liquids in wells at the station. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1992. The City treated the groundwater using air stripping techniques to separate contaminants from the water. The city continues to use the treated water as part of its drinking water supply system. EPA took the site off the NPL in 2018 after determining that it no longer poses unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Western Processing Co., Inc.
The 13-acre Western Processing Co., Inc. Superfund site is in Kent, Washington. From 1961 to 1983, a recycling and reclamation business was on site. Its operations resulted in soil, groundwater and sediment contamination. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup included removal of contaminated soil, surface structures and debris, groundwater treatment, sediment removal, placement of a cap to prevent stormwater infiltration, and establishment of a monitored natural attenuation (MNA) area where naturally occurring processes in soil and groundwater lower contaminant levels. Groundwater extraction and treatment are ongoing. Operation and maintenance activities and monitoring are ongoing. In 2022, EPA led an evaluation of the MNA area, ensuring the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. Part of Washington State’s Interurban trails network crosses the site. Mill Creek meets water quality criteria and supports local wildlife, including beavers and birds. Developers are exploring potential reuse opportunities at the site.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
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Wyckoff Co./Eagle Harbor
The Wyckoff Co./Eagle Harbor Superfund site is on Bainbridge Island, west of Seattle in Puget Sound, Washington. For nearly a century, a wood-treating facility and a shipyard were on site. Years of operations contaminated soil, groundwater and the bottom sediments of the adjacent Eagle Harbor. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987. To manage the cleanup, EPA divided the site into three areas: East Harbor, a 54-acre former wood-treating plant and a former shipyard. East Harbor includes more than 70 acres of bottom sediments and beaches on the south side of Eagle Harbor. The bottom sediments were heavily contaminated with creosote released from the wood-treating plant. Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA received clean sand from a nearby river dredging project and used the sand to cap contaminated parts of the harbor in 1994. EPA added several extensions to the cap in later years. EPA regularly monitors cap conditions. In 2012, EPA found that part of the cap in the middle of the harbor had eroded, exposing contaminated sediment. EPA completed repairs to 9 acres of the sediment cap in 2017. In 2018, EPA issued a plan to dredge and backfill parts of the intertidal beaches next to the former wood-treating plant. There are restrictions on shellfish consumption and limits on marine activities that could disturb the capped areas of the beach. When functioning, the cap provides clean habitat that supports a diverse population of fish, crabs and clams. The former wood-treating plant is on the south side of Eagle Harbor. It processed wood for use as railroad ties, utility poles and other outdoor structures. Soil and groundwater in the area became heavily contaminated with creosote and other chemicals over nearly 100 years of plant operations. Containment measures include a steel sheet pile wall around the facility and a groundwater extraction and treatment system. The outside wall is an important part of the containment system. It limits contaminated soil and groundwater from moving into Eagle Harbor. The aboveground part of the wall is corroding and must be replaced. EPA proposed a two-part cleanup plan in 2016. Phase I includes work on the nearshore and beach areas. Phase II covers soil and groundwater contamination in the upland. EPA issued a modified cleanup plan for Phase I in 2018. It includes a reinforced concrete barrier wall and road improvements to enable construction equipment and materials to reach the wall's construction area and dredge and capping some intertidal beaches. EPA issued another cleanup plan in 2019. It recommended using in-place stabilization and solidification to treat contaminated soil and groundwater at the former wood treatment plant. The new remedy will be completed in stages. After cleanup, the site will become part of a nearby city park. It will provide more than 15 acres of open space with views of Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline. The city of Bainbridge Island (the City) purchased the site property in 2007 for use as a park. The City converted the beach west of the former treatment plant and the hillside behind it to parkland, as part of Pritchard Park. West Beach is a popular recreation area used by beachgoers, kayakers, and paddle boarders. The wooded hillside above the beach has a network of hiking trails. The westernmost part of the park is now the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. Bainbridge Island was home to many Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II. The Memorial is on the site of a former ferry dock, where detainees were forced to board boats to Seattle on their way to the camps. The Memorial includes several paths and a 276-foot-long memorial wall – one foot for each relocated resident. West Harbor is a former shipyard. At this part of the site, EPA worked with the state to dismantle buildings and remove polluted sediments. Crews then paved over the facility. Today, the area is a maintenance yard for Washington State Ferries. EPA and the state of Washington conduct regular inspections to assess the integrity of the remedy. Runners and cyclists use a trail that runs along the edge of the area.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA did not have economic data related to on-site businesses, or economic data were not applicable due to site use. For additional information click here.
For more information:
- Recreational and Ecological Use at Superfund Sites Story Map
- Restoration and Remembrance: Integrating Community Priorities and Cleanup Plans: The Wyckoff Company/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site on Bainbridge Island, Washington (PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Yakima Plating Co.
The 1-acre Yakima Plating Co. Superfund site is in Yakima, Washington. From 1962 to 1990, Yakima Plating Co. electroplated bumpers for cars and other objects on the property. Operators disposed of wastewaters in an on-site drain field. Operations at the facility contaminated groundwater and soil. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. In 1991, EPA funded and conducted an early action removal and disposed of contaminated soil. After cleanup, EPA took the site off the NPL in 1994. Maintenance and monitoring activities are ongoing. An automobile painting and bodyworks facility is active on site.
Last updated December 2023
As of October 2022, EPA had data on one on-site business. This business employed 11 people and generated an estimated $520,000 in annual sales revenue. For additional information click here.
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