American Linen Supply Co Dexter Ave

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the current property owner, BMR-Dexter LLC, signed an Agreed Order (#DE 14302) on October 24, 2017 to investigate and clean up chlorinated solvent and petroleum contamination at this Site.

Under this Agreed Order BMR-Dexter LLC proposed a work plan to conduct an interim action for this Site which was approved by Ecology in August 2018.  Under the Interim Action Work Plan, BMR-Dexter LLC will complete the following work within the 700 Dexter Property:

• Excavate and dispose approximately 65,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil at an off-Site permitted facility.
• Implement in-situ (in-place) treatment of the contaminated soil remaining beneath the excavated soil. Modified Fenton’s Reagent, a strong chemical that oxidizes (breaks down) chemical contaminants, will be injected into wells to treat contamination upon contact. Emulsified vegetable oil will then be injected as a food source for soil bacteria, to enhance the longer-term biodegradation of residual contaminants in soil and groundwater.
• Install additional injection wells for long-term treatment of contaminated groundwater flowing towards the eastern and southern property lines.
• Conduct groundwater monitoring prior to and after injection events.

The following table shows the expected submission dates for documents and addendums associated to the interim action:  

*Please note that these documents will be received in draft form and will require Ecology review and approval.

Ecology and BMR-Dexter LLC will continue to work on the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study while the Interim Action is ongoing, per the requirements in the Agreed Order.  

Contaminants of concern at this Site include chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) which includes tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene (Cis 1,2-DCE), and vinyl chloride. Other contaminants include gasoline, diesel, and oil range petroleum hydrocarbons and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene). Contamination is present in the soil and in groundwater beneath the property and has migrated in groundwater off property several hundred yards to the east. Depth to water beneath the property is between 10 to 20 feet below ground surface. Groundwater flows toward Lake Union which is located about 600 feet to the east.

The American Linen Co. Dexter Avenue Site is located at 700 Dexter Avenue in Seattle.  The property is comprised of a single tax parcel (224900-0285) in King County and covers an area of 61,400 square feet. As of the beginning of 2014 the Site is being developed for use as a commercial office space.

In 1930 the property was the Site of a refueling facility that included multiple underground storage tanks containing petroleum fuel. Between the dates of 1947 and 1966 an automotive repair shop was also located at the property.  Dry cleaning operations began at the property in 1966 and operated through the mid-1990s.  In the mid-1990s through 2012, buildings on the property were occupied by businesses that included automotive repair, a bakery, and a car rental office.  The property was vacant during 2013 in preparation for demolition of the existing structures and redevelopment of the lot.