Western Port Angeles Harbor
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (Ri/Fs) Completed
The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is completed for the Site. The Remedial Investigation (RI) identifies contaminants, measures how much there are, and where they are located. The Feasibility Study (FS) proposes several cleanup alternatives that will protect human health and the environment. The FS also compares cleanup options for their cost and benefits, like protectiveness, permanence, and other requirements.
The reports are large and divided into three parts for easier viewing.
- RI/FS Part 1 RI: Section 1 to 9 (file size 47.9 MB).
- RI/FS Part 2 FS: Section 10 to 16 (file size 52.9 MB).
- RI/FS Part 3 Appendices A to K (file size 31.5 MB).
A fact sheet briefly summarizes the RI/FS.
The Amendment to Agreed Order DE 9781 is final. The amendment requires the PLPs to write a preliminary draft cleanup action plan. Ecology will write the draft cleanup action plan.
We held a comment period from January 16 to March 16, 2020, for public comment on the RI/FS and amendment to the Agreed Order. We received 18 comments. The Responsiveness Summary contains our responses to the comments received.
Other documents related to this site can be viewed by clicking on the link "View Electronic documents" on the right under the column called "Site Information".
Next Steps
The potentially liable persons (PLPs) will prepare a preliminary draft cleanup action plan. We will use the preliminary plan to prepare a draft Cleanup Action Plan.
The draft Cleanup Action Plan and a new order to put the plan into effect will be available for public comment before they are finalized.
Site Description
In 2008, we launched an investigation of Port Angeles Harbor through the Puget Sound Initiative and learned that toxic substances contaminated harbor sediments that may pose a threat to human health and the environment, including fisheries and shellfish beds.
People, pets, or wildlife may be exposed to hazardous chemicals by physically contacting or consuming contaminated sediment. Eating contaminated seafood can also expose people and wildlife to hazardous chemicals.
The harbor sediments investigation showed separate sources of sediment contamination in Western Port Angeles Harbor and the Rayonier Mill Study Area.
In the past, industries along the western shoreline of the harbor generated liquid waste and released it directly into the harbor and lagoon. Contaminated stormwater was discharged into the harbor. Several pulp and lumber mills burned salt-laden wood debris as a fuel source. Burning this debris formed hazardous substances, like dioxin, that rose up through smoke stacks and settled out onto marine sediments.
Based on sampling in Western Port Angeles Harbor Study Area, we learned where the contamination was located and identified the contaminants in the sediment that were above state cleanup levels.
- Metals (mercury, cadmium, and zinc).
- Dioxins and furans.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
- Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs).
Sediment Management Areas
The large area of the western harbor was divided into smaller areas called Sediment Management Areas (SMAs) for planning cleanup.
- SMA 1 is 37 acres in the inner harbor. This is where some of the highest levels of contamination is found. This area has over-water structures, areas prone to erosion, and relatively shallow depths.
- SMA 2 is the 25-acre lagoon. It is shallow with limited access and located on private property, which presents cleanup challenges.
- SMA 3 includes the other 1,100 acres and has lower, wide-spread levels of contamination. The shoreline has many over-water structures and much of the area is deeper than 50 feet, which presents challenges for cleanup.
Methods For Sediment Cleanup In Western Harbor
Methods for sediment cleanup include excavation, capping, enhanced monitored natural recovery, and monitored natural recovery. The cleanup will meet Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA; Washington's cleanup law) requirements and prevent exposure of people and other animals to contamination in sediment.
- Excavation removes the contaminated sediment from the intertidal or sea bottom and disposes the contaminated material offsite. Subtidal excavation is called dredging.
- Capping covers contaminated sediment with about a 2-food layer of clean sand, gravel, and/or rock. The cap prevents exposure of aquatic life to the contamination. A cap requires an environmental covenant to protect the integrity of the cap in the future.
- Enhanced Monitored Natural Recovery places a 6-inch layer of clean sand or gravel on top of contaminated sediments to jump-start the natural recovery process that occurs through the natural deposition of cleaner material.
- Monitored Natural Recovery requires regular checks on natural deposition to make sure new, cleaner material covers contaminated sediment over time as expected. Recovery by natural deposition occurs relatively slowly in the Western Port Angeles Harbor. Contaminants in sediment would be monitored until cleanup levels are reached.
If needed, cleanup to control upland pollution sources will be handled separately by the upland property owners and Ecology.
Find Other Cleanup Sites
In Washington State, we've identified over 13,000 contaminated sites in need of cleanup. Over 7,000 of those sites have been cleaned up, and 200 to 300 new sites are reported every year.
What's in My Neighborhood? is a map-based search tool. Enter an address or zoom into an area to find sites.
Cleanup and Tank Search is text-based, and lets you filter sites by location, contaminant, cleanup status, and more.
These tools also show completed cleanups.
Documents 75
Legal 9
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Final Western Port Angeles Harbor AO Amendment 1 signed | 12/7/2020 | Agreed Order Amendment |
Owens Corning Determination Western PA Harbor | 11/14/2013 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Western Port Angeles Harbor Final Agreed Order | 5/28/2013 | Agreed Order |
DNR Western Harbor PLP Notice | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
City of Port Angeles Western Harbor PLP Status Letter | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Merrill & Ring Western Haror PLP Status Letter | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Georgia Pacific Final PLP Status Letter | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Nippon Western Harbor PLP Status Letter | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Port of Port Angeles Western Harbor PLP Status Letter | 9/18/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Map 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Map of North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Sampling Locations | 5/3/2013 | Map |
Public Information 19
Technical Reports 24
Natural Resource Damage related documents 22
Places to see print documents
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Southwest Regional Office300 Desmond Dr SELacey, 98503-1274Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
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Port Angeles Library2210 South Peabody StreetPort Angeles, 98362This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 7
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals - Metals - Other | C | |||||
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) | C | |||||
Pesticides - Halogenated Pesticides | C | |||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Phenolic Compounds | C | |||||
Halogenated Organics - Dioxins/Furans | C | |||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons | C | |||||
Pesticides - Non-Halogenated Pesticides | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated