Facility Site ID: 2099 Cleanup Site ID: 12671

  • Site Status

  • Awaiting Cleanup

Current Status

Boeing Kent Space Center
Boeing Kent Space Center
Last Updated May 7, 2024

After taking public comment in 2023, a new permit and an Agreed Order (AO) modification requiring a focused feasibility study took effect. When the feasibility study is ready, we’ll notify you about the public comment period. This is expected to take place in the first half of 2025.


What's Next?


The next step in the cleanup process will be the focused feasibility study. The focused feasibility study compares ways to fix the arsenic contamination in groundwater at the site. When a draft of that study meets Ecology requirements, it will be issued for public comment. 

Site Background

Boeing has operated here since the 1960s, conducting research and development (primarily for the Department of Defense). They also manufacture electrical components and perform metal milling, finishing and plating, and photographic processing here. These activities led to contaminated soil and groundwater.

Boeing used to store hazardous waste longer than 90 days at this site under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) interim status permit. Boeing decided not to get a final permit. As a result, they can only store hazardous waste for up to 90 days. Even though they did not get a final permit, Boeing must keep their permit active until they clean up the site.

In 2016, Ecology and Boeing signed an Agreed Order (AO) that required Boeing to conduct a Remedial Investigation (RI). Boeing conducted a remedial investigation (RI) to determine the type, location and concentrations of contamination on this site. We oversee Boeing’s work under a legal agreement (Agreed Order or Order). Boeing sampled soil, groundwater, indoor air and water and sediment in its stormwater management system. 

Boeing submitted draft RI reports in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. We required revisions of these drafts. The 2022 RI report can be found in the "documents" section below and is now final.

In 2023, an AO Modification requires Boeing to do a focused feasibility study. 

Contamination

Formal Cleanup Process
Formal Cleanup Process
Contaminants found in groundwater and soil at Boeing Kent Space Center include:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene and vinyl chloride. These chemicals cause cancer.

• Petroleum hydrocarbons (the main parts of gasoline and oil).

• Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These chemicals are formed when gasoline or trash are burned. PAHs are suspected to cause cancer.

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), long-lasting chemicals formerly used in industry. Health effects of PCBs can include cancer and immune system damage. Read more about PCBs at https://www.epa.gov/pcbs.

• Toxic metals, such as arsenic. Arsenic is naturally occurring and is mobilized by some forms of contamination. Arsenic is poisonous and regulated in public drinking water.

Contamination at this site is relatively low, and people are not being exposed. This is because groundwater at the site is not used for drinking water, and Boeing controls access to their property. If contamination threatening human health or the environment is found, we will have Boeing take protective action.

Cleanup

This site is in the Feasibility Study phase of Washington's cleanup process.

Legal 3
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Boeing Kent Final Agreed Order Amendment 2/1/2023 Agreed Order
Boeing Kent Space Center Agreed Order # 12820 1/19/2016 Agreed Order
Boeing Kent Space Center - Determination of Potentially Liable Person Status Letter 10/8/2014 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
Map 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Boeing Kent Site Diagram 1/25/2023 Map
Public Information 3
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Boeing Kent Space Center Public Participation Plan FINAL 2023 2/28/2023 Public Participation Plan
Boeing Kent Space Center Public Comment Period Radio Ad 2023 2/27/2023 Multimedia
Boeing Kent Space Center Public Notice 2022 11/21/2022 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Technical Reports 19
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Boeing Kent Final Permit Lite 2/1/2023 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Boeing Kent Space RI Report 11/1/2022 Remedial Investigation Report
Feasibility Study Work Plan 8/30/2022 Feasibility Study
Boeing Kent Space Center, Remedial Investigation Report Comment Letter 11/1/2018 Remedial Investigation Report
Ecology Comment Letter, Draft Remedial Investigation Report 11/1/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Boeing Kent Space Center, Remedial Investigation Report, Addendum 2 9/12/2018 Remedial Investigation Report
Remedial Investigation Report, Addendum 2 9/12/2018 Remedial Investigation Report
Boeing Kent Space Center Remedial Investigation Report Addendum 2/19/2018 Remedial Investigation Report
Boeing Kent Space Center Draft Remedial Investigation Report vol. 2 12/28/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
Boeing Kent Space Center Draft Remedial Investigation Report vol. 1 12/28/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
Boeing Kent Space Center - Initial Investigation Report 5/4/2015 Initial Investigation Report
Letter to Ecology RE: Additional Evaluation of Arsenic in Groundwater, Boeing Space Center Area 3/16/2012 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
North Detention Pond Sampling Results Boeing Striker Property, Kent, WA 12/12/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Evaluation of Arsenic in Groundwater: Striker Property South, Boeing Space Center, Kent, WA 10/11/2011 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Remedial Action Report: Former Diesel Generator/Aboveground Storage Tank KSA-46 Area 9/2/2011 Remedial Action Report
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report 7/15/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Technical Memorandum for Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Findings 4/29/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Technical Memorandum for Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Findings 12/6/2010 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report 11/30/2010 Site Specific Technical Document - other
There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.

Places to see print documents

  • Northwest Regional Office
    15700 Dayton Ave N
    Shoreline, 98133
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 9

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals - Other S S S
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents S S S
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Solvents S S S
Metals - Arsenic S S S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Benzene S S S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel S S S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline S S S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other S S S
S
Suspected
C
Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
B
Below Cleanup Levels
RA
Remediated-Above
RB
Remediated-Below
R
Remediated
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.