Terminals 5 6 & 7 Uplands

We finalized a legal agreement, Agreed Order (AO) DE 21560, with the Port of Port Angeles to implement the Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP) Phase 1 at Terminals 5 6 & 7 Uplands. The port owns the properties and is the potentially liable person (PLP) responsible for conducting investigation.

The Phase 1 investigation was conducted in 2023 and 2024 and focused on determining whether contaminated soil or groundwater is moving from the study area into Port Angeles Harbor. We await sample results before determining next steps.

Study area versus site area: The area of a cleanup site is defined by where the contamination has come to be. The full extent of contamination at the Terminals 5 6 & 7 Uplands site is unknown. Until the full extent of contamination is known, the area of investigation is called the study area. 

The Terminals 5 6 & 7 Uplands study area is generally located at 1313, 1417, and 1608 Marine Drive in Port Angeles and includes the shoreline bordering Port Angeles Harbor.

Terminals 5 and 6 total about 12 acres and Terminal 7 is about 23 acres in size. Terminals 5 and 6 are used as a log yard and storage area. Terminal 7 is used for log yard operations and a lay berth. A portion of Terminal 7 is leased for timber debarking operations and trailer storage. 

The port is currently designing a system for collecting, moving, and treating stormwater for this area under a separate order with Ecology's Water Quality Program. 

Due to the likely sensitivity to cultural resources in the area, we are working to limit the soil disturbance that might be involved in any cleanup investigation. We are working with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe on this issue. 

The industrial property use in the past included mill operations, wood processing, and log storage. Based on environmental reports and information about these operations, hazardous chemicals contaminated soil and groundwater in the study area.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and tetrachlorophenol (TeCP) are wood preservatives that were used at the site. A hog fuel boiler burned salt-laden wood that may have contaminated the soil with dioxins and furans. There were large aboveground storage tanks of fuel oil and ammonia present on the properties. 

The industrial history of the area suggests these contaminants may be be present at levels that require cleanup under the state's cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

Contaminants in soil or groundwater:

• Petroleum hydrocarbons.
• Dioxins/furans.
• TeCP, PCP, and related compounds.

The work plan focuses on determining whether contaminated soil or groundwater is moving from the study area to the harbor. The investigation identifies if upland sources of contamination are an ongoing source of sediment contamination.  

Groundwater: Installation and monitoring of wells installed along the shoreline provide information about whether contaminated groundwater is moving from the study area into the harbor.

Soil: Analyses of soil collected from the drilled borings used to install the monitoring wells indicate the presence and amount of contamination. The shoreline bank may have areas prone to erosion and/or seeping groundwater. Soil analyzed from erosional areas provide information about whether contaminated soil is moving into the harbor. 

Topographic and visual surveys: Surveys determine the stability of the shoreline slope and the location of seeps and outfalls. This information is helpful to determine if these could be a source of contamination to the harbor. The surveys include examining rainwater movement on the pavement or surface soil.

Stormwater pipe: Condition of a stormwater pipe buried in the study area will be evaluated. If the pipe is in poor condition, then contaminated soil or groundwater could enter the pipe and be transported to the harbor.