Westman Marine Inc

Last Updated: April 2026

Información en español

Read the 2026 fact sheet | Watch the video funded by a Public Participation Grant from Ecology

The Department of Ecology is overseeing the cleanup of the Westman Marine site located at 218 McMillan Avenue in the Blaine Harbor industrial area. The Port of Bellingham is the Potentially Liable Person (PLP) cleaning up the site.

Ecology held a 30-day public comment period from March 23 to April 21, 2026, on the following documents: 

• Consent Decree: Legal agreement between Ecology and the Port of Bellingham requiring the Port to carry out the Cleanup Action Plan, which is Ecology’s plan for addressing contamination at the site. It also settles the port's liability.
• Updated Public Participation Plan: Describes how Ecology will inform the community about the site activities and ways to become involved.  

Ecology will consider all the comments received during this public comment period and may make changes to the documents. If the documents require significant changes, we will hold another public comment period. Otherwise, Ecology will finalize the documents. The next step includes cleaning up the site.

Estimated timeline:

• Spring 2026: Finalize the Consent Decree after addressing public comments 
• Summer 2026: Begin construction of the Cleanup Action Plan 

Questions?
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, we are happy to connect. Contact Kristen Forkeutis at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov or 425-240-4353 for more information. 

Join our email list to receive updates about the Westman Marine cleanup site. Email Kristen Forkeutis, Public Involvement Coordinator, at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov to be added to the list. Unsubscribe at any time.

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 MTCA and oversees cleanups. The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.

Current Westman Marine 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 Background
The Westman Marine cleanup site is located at 218 McMillan Avenue in the Blaine Harbor industrial area of Blaine, WA. The site consists of a 1-acre upland area (Upland Cleanup Unit) and a 27-acre in-water area (Sediment Cleanup Unit) extending throughout Blaine Harbor. 

Blaine Harbor was originally created in the late 1930s by dredging the tide flats and using the dredged material to create an upland area. The harbor’s upland areas were expanded in the 1940s, 1950s, and again in 2001.

Since about 1949 the Port has leased the property to several different companies for marine operations. Portions of the property were contaminated by past boatyard activities, including maintenance and repair.

Contamination
Environmental investigations found contamination in soil and sediment above WA State cleanup levels established to protect human health and the environment: 

• Soil: Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals
• Sediment: cPAHs, PCBs, metals, and tributyltin (TBT)

Cleanup Action Plan

Upland area cleanup actions:

• Remove the top 2 feet of contaminated soil and replace it with a cap (or cover) such as clean soil, asphalt, or concrete
• Remove upland marine side rails, sheds, and foundations to access contaminated soil

The plan also incorporates an early partial cleanup (interim action) from 2014 when the Port removed and disposed of approximately 420 tons of contaminated soil. See a map of the Interim Action location.

In-water area cleanup actions:

• Install a new sheet pile bulkhead (retaining wall) to support sediment dredging along the shoreline and prevent erosion of contaminated soil into the marine areas
• Temporarily remove marine infrastructure to provide access for sediment dredging
• Dredge and dispose of contaminated sediment
• Perform compliance monitoring to ensure the cleanup continues to meet standards over time

For both the upland and in-water areas, Ecology will require site use controls that restrict certain activities as well as a long-term operation and maintenance plan.

Need help or have questions? We offer translation and interpretation services at no cost. If you need these services, email kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-240-4353. If you call, ask for an interpreter to be connected with one.

Español
Le ofrecemos servicios de traducción e interpretación sin costo. Para solicitar una copia de esta información en español, llame a Kristen Forkeutis al 425-240-4353 o envíe un correo electrónico a kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov. Si necesita servicios de interpretación, solicite un intérprete y permanezca en la línea mientras lo comunicamos.