Boeing Kent Space Center
Facility Site ID:
2099
Cleanup Site ID:
12671
Current Status
Last Updated February 2023
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.
What's Next?
A public comment period runs February 27 - April 21, 2023 for the new permit and the Agreed Order modification that requires a Feasibility Study. After the comment period ends, we’ll review and consider all comments received. The documents may change based on your comments. After considering all comments, the documents will become final. When there are new documents about the site, we’ll notify you about additional public comment periods.
The next step in the cleanup process will be the feasibility study. The feasibility study compares the ways to fix the contamination at the site.
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.
What's Next?
A public comment period runs February 27 - April 21, 2023 for the new permit and the Agreed Order modification that requires a Feasibility Study. After the comment period ends, we’ll review and consider all comments received. The documents may change based on your comments. After considering all comments, the documents will become final. When there are new documents about the site, we’ll notify you about additional public comment periods.
The next step in the cleanup process will be the feasibility study. The feasibility study compares the ways to fix the contamination at the site.
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). In 2023, a proposed AO Modification will require Boeing to do a Feasibility Study.
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). In 2023, a proposed AO Modification will require Boeing to do a Feasibility Study.
Contamination
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.
• 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
Documents 27
Legal 4
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Boeing Kent Final Draft 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 |
Boeing Kent Space Center 2003 NFA Letter | 7/10/2003 | NFA Letter – non-VCP |
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
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 Office15700 Dayton Ave NShoreline, 98133This 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.
Public Comment Period February 27, 2023-April 21, 2023
Draft Permit: The permit allows cleanup work to continue.
Draft Agreed Order Modification (AO): We modified the AO for this site. It now requires a feasibility study about how to clean up the contamination.
Draft Public Participation Plan (PPP): This encourages community involvement in cleanup decisions.
To comment visit: ecology.wa.gov/BoeingKentComments
Need help?
Contact Janelle Anderson, Community Outreach Specialist, at 425-301-6454 or email janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov.
Public meeting
At this time, there are no public meetings scheduled for this comment period. To request a public meeting, please call 425-301-6454 or email janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov.