West Bay Marina cleanup information out for public review

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - February 4, 2008

08-029

West Bay Marina cleanup information out for public review

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and West Bay Marina Associates are entering into an agreement that will guide the investigation of potential contamination at the company's site in Olympia. Before the agreement is formalized, the public will have the opportunity to review the agreement and offer comments.

West Bay Marina is located at 2100 West Bay Drive along Budd Inlet.

The Marina entered Ecology's Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) in 1999 and subsequently removed leaking petroleum tanks, excavated contaminated soil and treated contaminated groundwater. However, the site remained on the suspected and confirmed contaminated sites list.

The site is now subject to additional investigation because of Ecology's emphasis on sites that pose a risk to the health of Budd Inlet and the restoration of the Puget Sound. Ecology is seeking a full investigation of all potential contamination on the property, including soil, groundwater and sediments.

"The previous work by the owners of West Bay Marina only targeted the petroleum contamination," said Guy Barrett, a Toxics Cleanup Program site manager for Ecology. "We now have information that leads us to a more comprehensive investigation of this property."

The public can review the draft agreed order that would oversee this cleanup investigation and submit comments between Feb. 4 and March 4, 2008. The documents are available at Ecology's office building at 300 Desmond Drive in Lacey, the Timberland Olympia Library or online: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/westBayMarina/wbm_hp.htm.

Ecology's Toxics Cleanup Program is making progress on several other cleanup sites within Budd Inlet:

Budd Inlet sediments investigation: Ecology is awaiting the final report detailing the findings of two sets of data analysis that were conducted this spring and fall. The analysis and report should be ready for public review and comment later this spring.
Hardel Mutual Plywood: A cleanup investigation is under way now to determine the nature and extent of contamination. The contamination is the result of historic use of the property as a plywood manufacturing business. After this phase, a feasibility study will identify and evaluate cleanup alternatives.
Reliable Steel: The agreed order to conduct a cleanup investigation and feasibility study and draft cleanup action plan was signed on Jan. 28. The cleanup investigation is under way to determine the nature and extent of soil, groundwater and sediments contamination from past operations at the site, including lumber milling, boat building and welding and steel fabrication. Contaminants of concern include heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Industrial Petroleum Distributors: Ecology and the liable party for this site are negotiating details of an agreed order that will complete the cleanup investigation and feasibility study for this former petroleum bulk plant.
Solid Wood, Inc.: Operations at this former lumber mill site are believed to have contaminated the soil, groundwater and possibly sediments with petroleum hydrocarbons, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals. Later this spring, the public will have an opportunity to review a draft agreed order for the cleanup investigation, feasibility study and interim cleanup action steps.

To receive Ecology updates about any of these sites, please contact Meg Bommarito, public involvement coordinator: mbom461@ecy.wa.gov.

###

Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 (desk)

Toxic Cleanup Sites by county: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/sites.html