Port of Vancouver (former Alcoa/Evergreen Smelter)

Update (August 26, 2011)

The Supplemental Cleanup Action Plan and Consent Decree amendment for the East Landfill are final.

East Landfill

In December 2008 and January 2009, Alcoa evaluated the impact of groundwater contamination from the East Landfill on the river. Samples were:

Taken in the sediment at the interface between the shoreline and the Columbia river.
Collected at different river sediment depths and analyzed for trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride.

We reviewed the monitoring results. It appears the groundwater entering the river meets MTCA surface water cleanup levels.

We are requiring additional groundwater sampling of the sediment in the river to verify these initial results. Samples will be collected over the next two years at high and low stages of the Columbia River.

Columbia River Work

The Columbia River sediment remediation work at the site is finished.

Alcoa completed dredging the PCB-contaminated sediments from the Columbia River at the end of January 2009. In February, clean sediment was placed in the dredged areas and in low- level contaminated areas near the smelter dock. This step helps return the dredged areas to their natural grades and further enhance recovery of the riverbed.

Alcoa received a permit extension from the Army Corps of Engineers to finish its work on bank stabilization. The work included bank armoring and shaping - which was completed in mid-March - along with the construction of a habitat enhancement area.

Sampling results from the dredged riverbed show the project successfully achieved the PCB cleanup goals. Water quality was checked throughout the project, and there were no violations of the standards.

Upland Cleanup Work

The demolition of the smelter and final removal of contaminated soils was completed in March 2010. This includes removing:

Ore unloading and storage buildings near the dock.
Contaminated concrete and solids from the cable and extrusion plants.

Crowley Buried Lagoons

The Crowley site consists of two historic covered oily bilge water lagoons which were constructed by a previous barge company.

Work at the Crowley site began in January of 2009. Petroleum-contaminated soils were removed and stockpiled on site. The oily soils were placed in a land treatment cell in February.

The biological treatment of the contaminated soils is complete. Petroleum levels decreased and are at final cleanup levels. Groundwater monitoring will continue for several years.

SITE HISTORY AND CLEANUP ACTIONS TO 2007

The Alcoa Vancouver site is located in Clark County on the north bank of the Columbia River approximately three miles northwest of downtown Vancouver, Washington. Alcoa constructed an aluminum smelter on the western portion of the site in 1940. Between 1944 and 1970, a number of fabrication operations were added to the facility to form aluminum into finished goods such as wire, rod, and extrusions. Alcoa operated the entire facility for approximately 45 years, until its closure in 1985.

In 1985, Alcoa sold the aluminum smelter to VANALCO, who operated it until 2000 when it closed. Evergreen Aluminum (Glencore) purchased the smelter assets in 2002, but did not restart the plant. While Alcoa sold or discontinued all operations and divested much of the smelter property, the company retained ownership of certain parcels, including the dock and alumina unloading facilities. Industrial and solid wastes from construction and operation of the aluminum smelter were stored in waste piles and consolidated in landfills onsite over the years. Hazardous contaminants in these wastes include petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cyanide, fluoride, trichloroethylene (TCE), low-level organic chemicals, and metals.

Evergreen began closure and demolition of the smelter in 2007. At the same time, Alcoa began final cleanup of the rest of the site. In December 2008, Alcoa and Ecology agreed on a Cleanup Action Plan and Consent Decree for the upland cleanup and remediation of PCB-contaminated sediments in the Columbia River. The Consent Decree didn't cover cleanup of the contaminated groundwater beneath the East Landfill.

Alcoa completed dredging PCB-contaminated sediments from the Columbia River at the end of January 2009. Smelter demolition and final removal of contaminated soils from the site was completed in March 2010. The Port of Vancouver purchased the site from Evergreen and Alcoa in 2009 and is redeveloping the area into a bulk storage and transport terminal.

PCB Cleanup and Source Control Actions to Date

2011	Ecology and Alcoa lodge a consent decree amendment Supplemental Cleanup Action Plan finalized.
2010	Ecology and Alcoa agree on cleanup of contaminated groundwater beneath the East Landfill Alcoa submits Transition Zone Water Investigation Summary Report Port of Vancouver begins development of site with the construction of new rail spur across the property, linking the site with Port property to the east Two new tenants start construction of a potash export facility and a propane storage and transfer facility on the site
2009	Alcoa and Ecology lodge a consent decree for the upland soil and Columbia River sediment cleanup. Alcoa and Ecology continue to negotiate on the cleanup of contaminated groundwater found beneath the East Landfill Columbia River sediment removal and bank enhancement complete Alcoa building demolition and soil cleanup complete Alcoa transfers the site to the Port of Vancouver for development
2008	Cleanup Action Plan finalized Alcoa submits application to Army Corps. of Engineers for permit to work in the Columbia River Ecology issues an Order to begin upland work along Columbia River bank Alcoa begins demolition of Rod Mill/Wire Mill/Extrusion Mill Building Alcoa begins dredging of PCB contaminated sediments from Columbia River
2007	Ecology starts negotiations on Consent Decree for cleanup of Evergreen (site info) and Alcoa property Ecology learns of PCB-contaminated clams in Columbia River adjacent to Alcoa property Department of Health issues health advisory prohibiting clam harvesting on Columbia River near Alcoa property Ecology assigns sediment & toxicology specialists & attorney to work on Alcoa cleanup Contaminated clam warming signs in 8 languages placed at boat launches Ecology holds public meeting to discuss cleanup actions to date at Evergreen & Alcoa properties. Ecology reviews progress of cleanup at Crowley site Alcoa posts additional clam warning signs on the smelter river bank Ecology reviews risk data to determine final sediment cleanup standards and action levels Alcoa & Ecology agree on, and announce, an accelerated cleanup schedule to complete site cleanup as soon as legally possible
2006	Alcoa installs rip rap to stabilize at the lower portion of East Landfill shoreline embankment
2005	Alcoa completes additional design work to further stabilize embankment of the East Landfill and completes in water habitat restoration required by state resource agency.
2004	Alcoa completes capping of East Landfill & construction of adjacent shoreline embankment
2003	Ecology issues Interim Action Agreed Order to cap East Landfill, excavate PCBs from south bank, & construct shoreline embankment to prevent release of PCBs to river Excavation of south bank PCBs is completed; area is back-filled with clean material
2002	Alcoa completes engineering design for the East Landfill cap, south bank excavation & shoreline embankment; receives aquatic resource permit
2001	Alcoa completes Phase II river sampling & submits report to Ecology
2000	Alcoa completes phase I river sampling & submits report to Ecology
1999	Ecology requires Alcoa to conduct PCB sampling in Columbia River
1998	Ecology requires Alcoa to sample soils adjacent to East Landfill & on adjacent river bank. PCBs discovered in river bank just downstream of landfill Alcoa applies to Corps of Engineers for Joint Aquatic Resource Permit to remove PCB-contaminated soils from the south bank area of concern
1997	Ecology issues Agreed Order to Alcoa to clean up Northeast Landfill Alcoa completes removal of waste from Northeast Landfill. High level PCBs sent off-site. Low level PCBs consolidated in East Landfill Ecology is notified that Clark County discovered PCBs in Columbia River
1995	Alcoa removes PCB-contaminated soil & concrete from Rod Mill building
1988	Alcoa completes voluntary cleanup of hydraulic oil & PCB-contaminated soils adjacent to Rod Mill

Other Site Cleanup Actions to Date

2009	Evergreen Aluminum completes final upland demolition and cleanup of smelter. Land transferred to the Port of Vancouver Crowley soil remediation site begins active land faming of oily soils. First round of summer samples indicate the oil levels are near cleanup levels. Crowley continues to apply nutrients and tills soil until the summer fall growing season is complete Port of Vancouver starts development of the site, now called Terminal 5. Port of Vancouver begins engineering for the development of new rail link for Terminal 5 and modification of the cover on the East Landfill to store automobiles
2008	Evergreen Aluminum completes cleanup of aluminum production area of the smelter property. Approximately 62,500 tons of contaminated soil and industrial waste is removed from Site to an off-site landfill. All aluminum production buildings are removed from the Site
2007	Ecology issues order to Evergreen Aluminum to characterize the aluminum production area of the Site. Evergreen conducts investigative sampling and begins demolition of smelter and cleanup
1996	Alcoa completes excavation & soil bioremediation of former hydraulic oil disposal site and contaminated soils adjacent to Extrusion Mill & present day power plant
1994	Alcoa removes sludge from process water settling lagoon & constructs new lined lagoons
1992	Ecology issues Consent Decree for cleanup of spent potliner site. Waste removed & site capped by December
1990	Ecology issues Agreed Order to determine source of TCE in drinking water
1988	Ecology directs Alcoa to supply fresh water to workers in response to trichloroethylene contamination in plant production well
1986	Ecology issues administrative order to conduct a clean up investigation and feasibility study for cleanup of spent potliner at Vancouver smelter

Related Information

Additional Resources

SITE INFORMATION

Facility Site ID: # 21

Location:
Vancouver, Clark County

Contact:
Paul Skyllingstad, project manager
(360) 407-6949

Status: Active

ADDITIONAL INFO

Alcoa Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Applications (JARPA) (pdf)

Alcoa Vancouver Focus Sheet (pdf)

Final Enforcement Order (pdf)

Updated schedule in process

SITE NEWS

Alcoa News Releases:
10/5/2010 - Cleanup nearly complete at Alcoa's former Vancouver smelter

12/16/2008 - Dredging underway at former Alcoa aluminum smelter

Ecology News Releases:
9/10/2008 - Agreement on consent decree reached; public comment period underway

6/5/2008 - Prep work for river sediment cleanup at Alcoa subject of meeting

2/15/2008 - Alcoa submits federal application for environmental dredging at Vancouver site

12/06/2007 - Agreement reached on river cleanup strategy for Vancouver's Alcoa site

11/09/2007 - Ecology, Alcoa announce accelerated cleanup of Vancouver site

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