TECT Aerospace Everett

Last Updated: June 2023

The TECT Aerospace Everett cleanup site (Site) is located on the southeastern portion of Paine Field in South Everett where historical activities, including aerospace manufacturing operations, have resulted in the presence of contaminants in soil, groundwater, and soil gas. An Agreed Order (legal agreement) requires Snohomish County (County), a potentially liable person (PLP), to prevent existing contamination from impacting human health and the environment by investigating and addressing contamination under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

Ecology held a 30-day public comment period from April 24, 2023, to May 23, 2023, on an Agreed Order, which has been finalized between Ecology and the County. The remedial investigation stage is underway. And investigations to understand the extent of contamination at the Site have been ongoing since 1993.

To view the site fact sheet and other documents, click on the "View Documents" link under Site Details or scroll down to the Documents section. 

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Ecology will work with the County to draft a Remedial Investigation Work Plan which will describe further investigations necessary to completely characterize the Site. Data gathered from this investigation will be summarized in a Remedial Investigation (RI) Report. Using the data from the RI Report, a Feasibility Study and Cleanup Action Plan will be prepared to assess potential remedial actions and plan a final cleanup action.

TECT Aerospace Everett is located at, and in the immediate vicinity of, 2933 109th St SW in Everett, WA, 98204 (the Site). This 39-acre Site is located on the southeastern portion of Paine Field in South Everett and is zoned for light industrial use. The Site is owned by the County and currently leased for use by several aerospace manufacturing operations. The Site history is as follows:

• 1936: Developed into a county airfield by a federal program.

• 1940-1948: Acquired by the U.S. military. Used by the U.S. Army Air Corps as an air base named Paine Field.

• 1948-1968: Jointly occupied and used by the County and U.S. Air Force. Redeveloped for aerospace manufacturing operations by the County.

• 1968-Present: Managed and operated by the County.

The Site consists of a series of existing and former buildings located at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field):

• Building C-19 was constructed in 1979 and primarily utilized for aerospace manufacturing. It is currently used for aerospace manufacturing, warehouse storage, and metal fabrication. 

• Buildings C-20, C-21, C-22, and C-23 were constructed between the 1940s and the late 1980s and used for barracks, warehousing, and aerospace manufacturing. Today, these buildings are unoccupied and scheduled for demolition in 2023. 

• Building C-29/Former Fuel Farm was constructed before 1947 for chemical storage of aviation fluid. Building C-29 was used for metal fabrication from 1965-1966 and demolished in 1996.

Numerous environmental investigations have been performed on the Site starting in the early 1990s. The focus of these evaluations was to identify contaminants located in the soil, groundwater, and gasses trapped in the soil (soil gas). The following classes of contaminants were found to exceed minimum allowed levels under MTCA:

• Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs): tetrachloroethene (PCE); trichloroethene (TCE); cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2 DCE); and vinyl chloride (VC)
  

• Petroleum hydrocarbons: Gasoline-(TPH-G), diesel- (TPH-D), and oil-range- (TPH-O) total petroleum hydrocarbons, and benzene
  

• Metals: arsenic and chromium

Ecology determined that this Site poses low-to-moderate risk during an evaluation of data in 1997. Rankings are based on the type of contamination identified at the Site and the potential risks to human health and the environment. A review of the Site Hazard Assessment is scheduled for 2024 following completed site characterization.

Underground Storage Tanks – In 1992 at Building C-29, one 12,000-gallon Underground Storage Tank (UST)—used for storage of aviation fuel—was removed along with 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil. An additional 12,000-gallon UST was planned for removal but could not be located. 

Contaminated Soil Excavation – In 2011 at Building C-19, shallow soil contaminated with TPH-D and TPH-O was excavated from below the building in several limited areas. Ecology issued this portion of the Site a no further action necessary letter in 2013 for soil contaminated with TPH.

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology implements the MTCA site cleanup process and oversees cleanups.

The cleanup process is completed in steps (see graphic below) over a variable timeline.

To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6831, email ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or visit ecology.wa.gov/Accessibility. For Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.

If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.

To report an environmental problem or concern, any time, day or night, use the online reporting form.

Counties: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom
Email: nwroerts@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 206-594-0000