Everett Smelter Cleanup | Cleanup Sites | Washington Department of Ecology

Washington State Department of Ecology

TOXICS CLEANUP

Protecting Your Family from Contamination
Information about Lead and Arsenic
Information for Contractors
Photo Galleries:

Sampling

Cleanup

Blog

Related Links

Tacoma Smelter
Everett/
Snohomish County Links:
City of Everett
Port of Everett
Port Gardner
Snohomish Health
District

Questions about your property?

Is it within the cleanup area?
Has it already been cleaned up?
Is it scheduled for cleanup or sampling this year?

Click here to find out more about past, current and upcoming cleanup activities!

The Asarco smelter, which operated in Everett in the early 1900s, caused widespread arsenic and lead contamination in northeast Everett. In addition to contamination left behind on the old smelter property, particles from the stacks settled on the surrounding areas, contaminating soil.

The Washington Department of Ecology managed the cleanup of the most highly contaminated properties from 1999 -2007. In 2009, Ecology received funding through a bankruptcy settlement with Asarco to continue with cleanup efforts. Ecology has developed a cleanup plan for the rest of the contaminated properties impacted by the former smelter.

The cleanup site is broken into 2 areas, the upland and lowland cleanup areas. The two areas are on two different cleanup schedules. Click here for a map of the overall site.

Current Status

Ecology is wrapping up cleanup work that was started in 2012 . Work will begin late this summer on a new group of properties east and west of East Marine View Drive. Visit the latest information page for more on the current project status.