APM Terminals Pacific Ltd AKA Parcel 40

Last updated July 2026

Between May 28 and June 29, 2026, Ecology held a public comment period on Agreed Order No. DE 22282 and a public participation plan. We did not receive any comments and finalized the documents on July 22, 2026.

Under this legal agreement, the Port of Tacoma's next deliverable is to provide Ecology with a draft remedial investigation work plan.

This site is a formal cleanup site under Washington’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act. Ecology supervises cleanup work and holds public comment periods throughout the cleanup process.

In Washington, polluters and/or property owners conduct and pay for cleanup. Ecology identified the Port of Tacoma as the potentially liable persons (PLP) that is responsible for investigating and cleaning up the site.

In July 2026, Ecology and the Port of Tacoma entered Agreed Order No. DE 22282, which requires the port to study the site, compare cleanup options, and suggest a cleanup to Ecology.

Railroad companies owned the site from the early 1900s until 1980, using it for train maintenance and repair work. In the 1930’s, True’s Oil Company built a 1,250,000-gallon aboveground fuel storage tank and several pipelines used to move fuel in and out of the tank.

In 1979, the Port of Tacoma bought the site. The True’s oil tank was removed in about 1981. Underground pipelines may have been removed in 1984, but the extent of removal is not known at this time.

A marine terminal operator built a large service garage, Building 600, over the previous footprint of the True’s oil tank in the early 1980’s. Construction also included installing several fuel storage tanks:

• A 3,000-gallon waste oil underground storage tank on the south side of Building 600.
• A 20,000-gallon diesel underground storage tank and 1,000-gallon gasoline underground storage tank in a fuel shed near Building 600.

The 3,000-gallon waste oil tank was removed in 1998. The two tanks under the fuel shed were closed in place in 2023.

Currently, the site is paved with asphalt and concrete.

Ecology will require more investigation to better understand the types and extent of contamination at this site. When completed, this study will be available for public comment.

So far, sampling found contamination from fuels in groundwater under and around Building 600.

Thank you for your interest in the APM Terminals Pacific Ltd AKA Parcel 40 cleanup site!

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