Cleanup agreement for Kimberly-Clark mill site in Everett available for public comment

OLYMPIA – The public is invited to review and comment on a draft agreement for cleaning up the Kimberly-Clark mill site in Everett. A public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2012, in Everett.

The proposed cleanup focuses on 56 upland acres at the Kimberly-Clark Worldwide site at 2600 Federal Ave. The public can submit comments to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) from Oct. 15 to Nov. 14 on these draft documents:

A legal agreement called an agreed order between Ecology and Kimberly-Clark. The agreement describes the site studies the parties agree to perform on the site’s upland portion. It also includes a work plan for partial cleanup actions called interim actions.
A draft State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist and a Determination of Non-Significance. These documents show that the cleanup work won’t harm the environment.
A public participation plan, which details how Ecology will involve people interested in the cleanup process for the site.

Ecology staff will be in Everett on Oct. 29 to talk about the proposed cleanup during an open house and public meeting. The open house will start at 6 p.m., followed by a presentation and a question-and-answer period at 6:30 p.m. The event will be at Snohomish Public Utility District No. 1 at 2320 California St. in Everett.

The site was first developed in the 1800s and early 1900s. It was used primarily for pulp and paper manufacturing from 1931 to 2012. The mill shut down in April 2012; it is now being demolished.

While the mill operated, it produced bleached sulfite pulp and tissue products such as paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and industrial wipers (a heavier type of paper towel). Kimberly-Clark Worldwide acquired the facility in 1995 when it merged with Scott Paper Co.

Other past uses at the site included sawmill operations and bulk petroleum storage operations for several oil companies.

Historical sampling in the site uplands found mostly petroleum and metals contamination in soil and groundwater.

Here’s where you can review the draft documents:

Everett Public Library, 2072 Hoyt Ave. Call 425-257-8000 for information.
By appointment at Ecology’s headquarters, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey. Contact Carol Dorn at 360-407-7224 or Carol.Dorn@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology’s Kimberly-Clark webpage. You can send comments to Ecology on the draft documents from Oct. 15 through Nov. 14. Here’s how:
Mail them to Andy Kallus, site manager, Washington Department of Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
Email them to Andrew.Kallus@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology will review and consider all comments. The documents may be modified based on public comments.

The Kimberly-Clark site has been added to Ecology’s Port Gardner Bay cleanup sites under the Puget Sound Initiative. That’s an effort by local, tribal, state, and federal governments; business, agricultural and environmental communities; scientists and the public to restore and protect the health of the Sound.

Ecology identified Port Gardner Bay as a high-priority, “early-action” cleanup area under the initiative. An Ecology team is managing or assisting the cleanup of 11 Port Gardner sites by working with the Port of Everett, Kimberly-Clark, other site owners, area tribes, and others to help shape the cleanups.

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; seth.preston@ecy.wa.gov

For more information:

Ecology’s Kimberly-Clark Worldwide webpage (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=2569)

Ecology’s social media (www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html)