PORT ANGELES — The state Department of Ecology has prepared a status update for eight formal cleanup sites in Port Angeles.
The sites include the Rayonier Mill; western Port Angeles harbor; Terminals 5, 6 and 7 Uplands (located along Marine Drive); K Ply (also known as PenPly or Peninsula Plywood); marine trades area (at Marine Drive and Tumwater Street); Unocal Bulk Plant; Pettit Oil Company Tumwater Truck Route; and the former Shell Oil Bulk Plant.
None of the sites are of particular environmental worry, Ecology communications manager Cheryl Ann Bishop said.
Bishop said ports and waterfronts in the Pacific Northwest often were home to the wood and petroleum distribution industries, “so it is not surprising that many of the areas have several sites from historical contamination.”
The cleanup requirements for each location are divided into eight stages, spelled out in the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). The property owner or polluter is responsible for the site investigation and cleanup of each of the sites.
The Rayonier Mill had the following contaminants above acceptable levels: metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum, dioxins/furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds and pesticides.
Ecology is negotiating a legal agreement to complete cleanup at the site and has prepared a draft interim action plan to identify remedies. A public comment period likely will be held sometime next year.
The Port Angeles harbor has contaminants of metals, PCBs, pesticides, phenolic compounds, dioxins/furans and PAHs.
The potentially liable organizations include Georgia-Pacific, NPI USA Co. Ltd, Merrill and Ring, the Port of Port Angeles, the city of Port Angeles and Owens Corning.
Ecology has prepared a draft cleanup action plan and is negotiating a cleanup agreement. Public comment will be held sometime next year.
The parties potentially liable for contaminants at Terminals 5, 6 and 7 Uplands are the Port of Port Angeles, Merrill and Ring and Owens Corning.
Contaminants include PCBs, phenolic compounds, dioxins/furans, halogenated organics and petroleum.
Over the past two years, an investigation examined whether contaminated soil or groundwater is moving from that area into the harbor. The results, which should be available in 2025, will determine next steps.
The parties potentially liable for the contaminants at K Ply include the Port of Port Angeles, Rayonier and Exxon Mobil Environmental Services Company.
Contaminants are petroleum, phenolic compounds, non-halogenated solvents and benzene.
Cleanup construction at that site is complete, and an active environmental covenant is protecting the area. Monitoring is ongoing due to residual soil and groundwater contamination.
The first periodic review will be available for public comment once it is complete, likely in 2025, Bishop said.
The Marine Trades Area and Pettit Oil Company Port Angeles site has contaminants of petroleum, non-halogenated solvents and benzene. Potentially liable parties are the Port of Port Angeles, Chevron Environmental Management Company and Atlantic Richfield Company.
While progress on the site was paused to prioritize other sites, Ecology is resuming work on a draft cleanup action plan and negotiating an agreement for cleanup. Both will be available for public comment once complete.
Petroleum is the contaminant at the Unocal Bulk Plant; Chevron is potentially liable.
Chevron is currently working with a new consultant to complete the remedial investigation and feasibility study. When the public review draft is complete, a public comment will be held, and Chevron will then complete a preliminary draft of the cleanup action plan.
Petroleum also is the contaminant at the Pettit Oil Company Tumwater Truck Route and the Former Shell Oil Bulk Plant sites. Potentially liable parties are Shell and the Port of Port Angeles.
Ecology is working with the port to draft an interim action work plan and remedial investigation. Public comment will be held once it is complete.
Bishop said site cleanup can take a few years to a few decades.
“Cleanups take a long time when they involve contaminated soil, groundwater and sediment and require coordination of projects,” she wrote. “For example, integrating the cleanup with restoration of natural resource damages, sediment cleanup or removal of in-water structures.”
There are also two natural resource damage assessments in Port Angeles.
Rayonier is in the midst of ongoing confidential settlement negotiations, Ecology said.
The Western Harbor is involved in a $9.3 million settlement under two consent degrees. That money will be used for restoration projects in the Ediz Hook area.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
