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Whatcom Waterway

SITE BACKGROUND

Also in 2001, GP completed a combined sediment cleanup and habitat restoration action in the Log Pond portion of the Site as an interim cleanup action under Ecology oversight.

In 2005, the Port of Bellingham (Port) acquired 137 acres of waterfront property from GP including property within the Site. As a result the Port is now co-responsible for cleaning up the Site and is leading the cleanup effort with oversight by Ecology.

This Site is one of several cleanup sites being addressed as part of the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot; a bay-wide, multi-agency initiative integrating sediment cleanup, control of pollution sources, habitat restoration and aquatic/shoreline land use.

Site Documents

September 20, 2007

Cleanup Documents Finalized

Ecology has finalized the Consent Decree for the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site.  The Consent Decree is a legal agreement between Ecology, the Port of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham, the Department of Natural Resources and Meridian-Pacific, LLC to implement the cleanup of historic contamination at the Whatcom Waterway site and settle liability.  The Consent Decree includes a Cleanup Action Plan describing Ecology’s selected cleanup action for the Site, as well as other exhibits.  The Consent Decree is not substantively changed from the draft Consent Decree which was issued for public review and comment in July 2007.
 
Ecology’s selected cleanup action for the Site includes the removal of more than 500,000 cubic yards of contaminated sludge and sediment, capping in some areas of the Site, and long-term monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup action.  The engineering design, permitting, and construction of the cleanup is estimated to cost more than $44 million and take six years to complete. 
 
Ecology has also completed a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Site cleanup as well as a Responsiveness Summary addressing public comments received on the draft Consent Decree.
 
The Consent Decree will now be signed by Ecology and the liable parties and entered in Whatcom County Superior Court. The project will then move forward into remedial design and permitting.  In late 2009 or early 2010 an Engineering Design Report will be issued for public review that provides design, monitoring and contingency plan details.

Consent Decree & Exhibits

• Consent Decree: legal agreement.
• Exhibit A - Site Diagram: shows the site location and vicinity.
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan: describes Ecology's selected cleanup action for the site (large file - 9.7 MB).
  Note: the following sections have been separated for your convenience in downloading the Cleanup Action Plan.
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Text - Part 1
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Tables - Part 2
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 1 Figures - Part 3
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 2 Figures - Part 4
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 4(a) Figures - Part 5
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 4(b) Figures - Part 6
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 4(c) Figures - Part 7
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Sections 5 and 6 Figures - Part 8
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Section 7 Figures - Part 9
• Exhibit B - Cleanup Action Plan Appendix A and B - Part 10
• Exhibit C - Schedule of Work and Deliverables: lists specific reports and actions required under the Consent Decree, along with the schedule for performance.
• Exhibit D - List of Required Permits: describes permits that will likely be required for implementation of the cleanup.
• Exhibit E - Applicable Substantive Requirements: lists regulatory requirements that Ecology will coordinate as part of implementation of the cleanup.
• Exhibit F - Public Participation Plan: describes opportunities for public involvement.

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

• Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
  Note:  the following sections have been separated for your convenience in downloading the document:
• Fact Sheet
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 1 (continued)
• Chapters 2-3
• Chapter 3a (continued)
• Chapter 3b (continued)
• Chapter 4
• Chapters 5-6
• Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Appendices:
  Due to size limitations, the appendices are only available at the repositories (listed in the Fact Sheet).  The appendices are also available on CD from Ecology.  For a copy, please e-mail Lucy McInerney or telephone her at 425.649.7272.

Responsiveness Summary addressing Public Comments on the draft Consent Decree

• Responsiveness Summary
• Appendix A: Written Comments  (large file ~ 5mb)

Note: the following sections have been separated for your convenience in downloading the written comments:

• Comments Received—Part 1
• Comments Received—Part 2
• Comments Received—Part 3
• Comments Received—Part 4
• Comments Received—Part 5
• Public Hearing Transcript 
• Appendix C

Document Archive

Related Information

• Port of Bellingham
• Watershed Information: WRIA 1

Additional Resources

• Acronyms used by the Toxic Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Facility/Site Atlas
• Toxics Cleanup publications