Facility Site ID: 3145643 Cleanup Site ID: 2012

Public Comment Period August 28, 2023-September 26, 2023

Información en español

I & J Waterway legal agreements ready for public review

Download the 2023 fact sheet or postcard.

We invite you to review two legal agreements for the cleanup of the I & J Waterway Site (Site) on the Bellingham waterfront. The agreements address each of the two Sediment Cleanup Units (SCU-1 and SCU-2) that comprise the Site.  

Submit comments | Read comments

On-site walking tour: Wednesday, September 13, 2023

RE Sources will host a shoreline walking tour of the Site to provide project information and answer questions. Ecology and Port staff will also be available for questions. This walking tour is funded by a Public Participation Grant from Ecology.

Current Status

I & J Waterway cleanup site map with Sediment Cleanup Units (click to enlarge)
I & J Waterway cleanup site map with Sediment Cleanup Units (click to enlarge)

Last Updated: August 2023

Información en español

Legal agreements ready for public review

Ecology invites you to review two legal agreements for the cleanup of the I & J Waterway Site (Site) on the Bellingham waterfront. The agreements address each of the two Sediment Cleanup Units (SCU-1 and SCU-2) that comprise the Site.  

The agreements available for review are:

  • Consent Decree, SCU-1. This agreement between Ecology, the Port of Bellingham (Port) and Bornstein Seafoods (Bornstein) requires the Port and Bornstein to complete engineering design and construct the cleanup action for SCU-1.  It includes an updated version of a cleanup action plan (CAP) finalized by Ecology in 2019.
  • Agreed Order, SCU-2. This agreement between Ecology and the Port requires the Port to design the cleanup action for SCU-2. It includes the same updated CAP as the consent decree for SCU-1.

To learn more about Ecology's recent I & J Waterway fieldwork, visit our blog.

General Cleanup Process

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 (see graphic below) over a variable timeline.
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)

Site Timeline

  • August 28 to September 26, 2023: Public comment period.
  • Fall 2023: Ecology responds to public comments received.
  • Winter 2023: Complete engineering design documents for SCU-1. Begin engineering design for SCU-2.
  • Summer 2024: Begin construction of the cleanup action for SCU-1.
  • 2026: Begin construction of the cleanup action for SCU-2.

Construction of the cleanup action for the SCU-2 portion of the Site will occur under a future legal agreement which will be issued for public review.

Public Participation

Current I & J Waterway cleanup site Public Participation Plan

This plan describes how Ecology will share information with the community and how you can share information with us. Ecology will review this plan as the cleanup progresses and amend/update it as necessary.

Site Information

I & J Waterway cleanup site on Bellingham Waterfront, May 2019
I & J Waterway cleanup site on Bellingham Waterfront, May 2019
Site History
The I & J Waterway cleanup site is about 3.1 acres in Bellingham Bay, between Hilton Avenue and Bellwether Way. Property owners within the Site boundaries are the Port of Bellingham and the state of Washington.

The Site consists of contaminated marine sediments in the waterway and nearby ship-berthing areas.

The contamination is the result of shoreline industrial activities of former owners and port tenants. Portions of the Site were used for lumber mill operations from the early 1900s through 1972. Other industrial operations within the Site boundaries included a rock-crushing plant from 1963 to 1992, frozen food processing from 1946 to 1959, and a seafood processing plant that has been in operation since 1959.

Contamination
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, phenols, and nickel are present in marine sediment. These contaminants are related to historic industrial activities, including lumber mill operations, rock crushing, and food/seafood processing.  A building fire also likely contributed to the contamination. 

Other contaminants such as dioxins/furans, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), and mercury were also found at the Site. Dioxins/furans are present throughout Bellingham Bay from many possible sources including former pulp and paper mills and wood treating operations, and on-going burning activities. Mercury is related to past discharges from the Georgia-Pacific Pulp Mill. The source of PCBs is unknown. 

The contamination must be addressed under the state’s toxics cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act.

Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The I & J Waterway site is one of 12 Bellingham Bay Cleanup sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot.  The Pilot is a bay-wide multi-agency effort to clean up contaminated sediment, control sources of sediment contamination, and restore habitat, with consideration for land and water uses. In 2000, participants in this initiative developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.

Translated Content

En español

El Departamento de Ecología le invita a comentar sobre un reporte ambiental para el sitio que está contaminado I & J Waterway en Bellingham. Si le gustaría recibir este documento en español, por favor llame a 425-240-4353 y espere que un intérprete se una a la llamada o envíe un correo electrónico a preguntas@ecy.wa.gov.

Traducciones de avisos públicos para los sitios de limpieza de la Bahía de Bellingham se preparan bajo solicitud. 
Legal 9
Public Information 10
Document Title Document Date Document Type
I & J Waterway - CD and AO Postcard - August 2023 8/15/2023 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
I & J Waterway - CD and AO Fact Sheet - August 2023 8/15/2023 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
I & J Waterway - Response to Comments - April 2019 4/29/2019 Responsiveness Summary
I & J Waterway AO-CAP-SEPA Fact Sheet - February 2019 2/14/2019 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
I & J Waterway Public Participation Plan - February 2019 2/13/2019 Public Participation Plan
Response to Comments: Draft RI/FS Report - Feb. 2015 2/3/2015 Responsiveness Summary
I & J Waterway RI/FS Fact Sheet 10/30/2014 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
I & J Waterway legal agreement amendment available for public review 9/1/2005 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
I & J Waterway draft public participation plan 10/1/2004 Public Participation Plan
I & J Waterway cleanup documents available for public review 10/1/2004 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
I & J Waterway SEPA DNS and Checklist February 2019 2/19/2019 SEPA Documents
Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy - SEPA - Environmental Impact Statement 10/1/2000 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 12
Document Title Document Date Document Type
I & J Waterway - Pre-remedial Design Investigation Work Plan - April 2020 4/8/2020 Sampling and Analysis Plan
I & J Waterway - Final Cleanup Action Plan (Agreed Order Exhibit B) - April 2019 4/29/2019 Cleanup Action Plan
Final RI/FS Report - Appendices B-H 2/6/2015 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Final RI/FS Report - Feb. 2015 2/6/2015 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Appendices B-H 10/30/2014 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Appendix A-Laboratory Reports-Parts11-15 10/30/2014 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Draft RI/FS Report - I & J Waterway Site - Oct. 2014 9/30/2014 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Appendix A-Laboratory Reports-Part 6-10 9/29/2014 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Appendix A-Laboratory Reports-1-5 9/29/2014 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
I & J Waterway - Supplemental Investigation Memo 2/6/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - other
I & J Waterway preliminary sediment data summary - AO first amendment Ex A implementation 12/6/2006 Remedial Investigation Report
I & J Waterway sediments RI/FS work plan 7/27/2005 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
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
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
  • Ecology Bellingham Field Office
    913 Squalicum Way, Unit 101
    Bellingham, 98225
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
  • Bellingham Public Library
    210 Central Ave
    Bellingham, 98225
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 3

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Other Contaminant - Base/Neutral/Acid Organics S
Metals - Metals - Other C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons C
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.