Legion Memorial Golf Course

Cleanup of the Legion Memorial Golf Course is complete. An environmental covenant is in place to contain remaining soil contamination at the Site. The Haack Parcel, located at 413 to 433 Rockefeller Avenue, was cleaned up in 2021. An amendment to the covenant was recorded in 2023. The amendment releases the Haack Parcel from the requirements of the environmental covenant recorded for Legion Memorial Golf Course. The environmental covenant is still active for the rest of the Legion Memorial Golf Course property.

This Site is within the Everett Smelter Cleanup Uplands area. 

In 1990, discovery of arsenic and lead contamination and cleanup in the area began. Ecology is currently still working with property owners in the area to remediate soils contaminated with metals sourced from the former smelter. 

The cleanup site is divided into Uplands (residential) and Lowlands (industrial) cleanup areas. The two areas are on different cleanup schedules. Further information about the ongoing cleanup of the Everett Smelter Site is available on the Everett Smelter Cleanup Page.

Legion Memorial Park was first established in the 1930’s. The golf course at the park was completed in 1935.

As a result of operations of the Asarco Everett Smelter, located approximately 0.5 miles to the east of the park, shallow soils at this Site are contaminated with arsenic and lead.

Emissions from the smokestack at the smelter resulted in the release of particulate matter with high concentrations of these metals. Particulate then settled out of the air and contaminated surface soils in the area around the former smelter.

Cleanup

From 1998 to 2016, following the complete characterization of contaminated soils at Legion Memorial Golf Course, a cleanup action was conducted to prevent public exposure to contaminated soil. A cover of clean soil a minimum of 4 inches thick was installed in the across the frequently used areas of the golf course.

To protect this cleanup action, an Environmental Covenant was filed with Snohomish County to ensure the maintenance of the clean soil cover and existing buildings and parking lots at the Park.

In 2020, the City sold a parcel of the golf course property to the Haack Brothers. The property is called Haack Parcel (Property).  It’s located on the eastern portion of the Legion Memorial Golf Course at 413-433 Rockefeller Avenue (Parcel number 00438610400600; the Property), overlooking the 15th green and 16th tee. 

Ecology determined that the cleanup conducted at the Haack Parcel was sufficient to protect human health and the environment. Ecology held a public comment period from July 13 to August 1, 2023 for an amendment to the existing environmental covenant for the Legion Memorial Golf Course site. The covenant amendment removes the Haack Parcel from the requirements of the environmental covenant, but leaves the covenant in place for the rest of the golf course.

The Property was cleaned up under the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).  Under the VCP, participants can clean up contamination to meet the state cleanup standards under the Model Toxics Control Act, Washington’s hazardous waste cleanup law.  Ecology provides technical and regulatory review assistance through the VCP.

Six areas of shallow soil with concentrations of arsenic, lead, and cadmium above the cleanup level were identified based on borings completed prior to redevelopment.

In October 2021, a total of 805 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the contaminated areas within the Haack Parcel and transported off site for disposal. Soil samples collected from the extents of the six excavations indicated that all contaminated soil was removed from the Haack Parcels.

In Soil:

Arsenic

Cadmium

Lead

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 enacts the MTCA and oversees cleanups.

​The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.

What's In My Neighborhood shows contamination cleanup sites in Washington state. Ecology works to clean up these sites to protect the health of people and the environment. Cleanups are construction projects that remove, treat, or contain potentially harmful substances.

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

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