Northport Waterfront
Project Background
We are directing and funding an investigation and cleanup of smelter-related metals contamination on Northport’s waterfront area next to the Town Park, using funds from the Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative.
The project area includes permanently and seasonally exposed areas of the Columbia River bank and shore directly next to the park and boat launch. From the river, this area is between Smelter Rock downstream to the Northport Highway 25 bridge, and is associated with the historic Le Roi Smelter that was located at and around the park. The area remains polluted by smelter wastes that were dumped and spread along the shore.
Our goal is to assess options for protecting people and restoring the near-shore and shoreline environment next to the park. We look forward to working with local government, businesses, and residents during the investigation and cleanup process to understand your concerns and the community’s vision for the waterfront.
Contamination and cleanup options reports published
We held a comment period on the draft Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) May 3 through June 2, 2021. The RI explains the extent and locations of contaminants, and the FS evaluates cleanup options. You can learn more in the public notice that was mailed to the community and our slides from the online public meeting we held May 19. We responded to four sets of comments on the RI/FS.
Beach sampling complete
We held a comment period March 13 - April 11, 2019, for the Remedial Investigation (RI) Work Plan and related State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) documents. Learn more about the investigation in the notice that was mailed to the community. We responded to comments from two people and thank them for their input.
Contamination
Documents 11
Public Information 6
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Northport Waterfront: Public invited to comment on draft cleanup plan | 4/19/2022 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Response to Comments: Draft Remedial Investigation & Feasibility Study for the Northport Waterfront | 6/30/2021 | Responsiveness Summary |
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study public meeting presentation: Northport Waterfront | 5/19/2021 | Multimedia |
Public invited to comment on draft contamination and cleanup options: Northport Waterfront | 4/19/2021 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Response to Comments: Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan, Northport Waterfront | 4/24/2019 | Responsiveness Summary |
Investigation contamination on the Northport waterfront | 3/13/2019 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
State Environmental Policy Act 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
SEPA Checklist & DNS: Northport Waterfront | 2/21/2019 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 4
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Cleanup Action Plan: Northport Waterfront | 4/13/2022 | Cleanup Action Plan |
Feasibility Study: Northport Waterfront | 4/19/2021 | Feasibility Study |
Remedial Investigation: Northport Waterfront | 10/2/2019 | Remedial Investigation Report |
Work Plan: Northport Waterfront Remedial Investigation | 3/7/2019 | Remedial Investigation Work Plan |
Places to see print documents
-
Eastern Regional OfficeN 4601 Monroe StSpokane, 99205-1265Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
-
Northport Town Hall315 Summit St.Northport, 99114This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 4
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals - Metals - Other | C | C | ||||
Metals - Arsenic | C | C | ||||
Metals - Lead | C | C | ||||
Metals - Mercury | S | S |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated
Public Comment Period May 02, 2022-June 01, 2022
Draft Cleanup Action Plan
Ecology is directing cleanup of smelter-related metals contamination on Northport’s waterfront. You are invited to comment on the draft Cleanup Action Plan. You can learn more in the public notice we mailed to the community.
Review the draft document
Online public meeting, May 17, 6 p.m.
Join on Zoom
Join by phone:
Submit comments by email or mail to:
Justin Rice, justin.rice@ecy.wa.gov
4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane, WA 99205
Or use the online comment form
Next steps
We will respond to all the comments we receive during the comment period and publish our responses. Then, we will begin working on the engineering design for the cleanup. The draft engineering design report will be available for public review and comment before final cleanup begins.