  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - October 29, 2009
09-258
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks comments on a proposed agreement to study a site on Everett's Port Gardner Bay.
Ecology proposes entering an Agreed Order with ExxonMobil Oil Corp. and American Distributing Co. (ADC) for a site known as ExxonMobil ADC. The draft Agreed Order describes site studies that will be done as part of the cleanup process. A related draft public participation plan explains how Ecology will involve interested people, consider public comments and make documents available.
Ecology's Toxics Cleanup Program will accept comments from Monday, Nov. 2, through Dec. 4.
Port Gardner Bay is one of seven areas receiving early-action, high-priority attention under the Puget Sound Initiative. The initiative is a comprehensive effort by local, state, federal and tribal governments, business, agriculture and environmental communities, scientists and the public to restore and protect the Sound.
In Port Gardner Bay, Ecology will manage or assist with cleaning up nine sites contaminated with gasoline, diesel fuel, metals, and other substances. An Ecology team is working with the Port of Everett, site owners, area tribes, and others to help shape the cleanups.
ExxonMobil ADC is located at 2717 and 2731 Federal Ave. The site was used to receive, store and distribute petroleum fuel.
ExxonMobil Oil Corp.'s predecessors owned the entire site from 1927 to 1974. Mobil Oil continued to operate the site's southern portion until 1987. A.P. Miller bought the northern portion, which ADC used for bulk petroleum operations from 1974 to 1990.
Past operations contaminated the site's soil and groundwater with:
Cleanup work was done in 1996 and 1998, including stopping petroleum from discharging into Port Gardner Bay and implementing an interim action to contain petroleum contamination on the site. Groundwater monitoring and petroleum recovery activities have continued since 2000 at the site, which is now a paved parking lot.
More investigation is needed to make sure appropriate steps are taken to clean up the site to meet state environmental standards.
Here's where you can view the proposed documents:
You may submit comments to Andy Kallus, Site Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; e-mail akal461@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology will review and respond to all comments. The documents could be amended based on comments Ecology receives.
###
Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications director, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Learn more about the Puget Sound Initiative: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/psi/overview/psi_baywide.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
