Georgia-Pacific West Bellingham
Facility Site ID:
14
Cleanup Site ID:
2279
Current Status
Georgia-Pacific West Site aerial map: Chlor-Alkali Area and Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (click to enlarge)
Last Updated: September 2021
| Información en español abajo |
| Response to Comments (August 2021) |
| Final Cleanup Action Plan Chlor-Alkali Area (September 2021) |
| Fact Sheet | English | Postcard | English |
Work begins on engineering design for cleanup
Ecology conducted a 30-day public comment period (July 6 - August 4, 2021) on a draft Cleanup Action Plan, Agreed Order Amendment (legal agreement) and a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination for the Chlor-Alkali Area of the Georgia-Pacific West (Site) on the Bellingham waterfront. The plan calls for treating, removing, and capping contaminated soil; treating and monitoring groundwater; and restricting future activities in certain areas.
Ecology has reviewed and considered the public comments received on the documents. Based on Ecology's evaluation of the comments, no changes were necessary in the documents, and they are being finalized. (Download the Response to Comments.)
Work will begin on the engineering design of the cleanup action (construction). See graphic below and visit Ecology's cleanup process webpage to learn more about Washington's formal cleanup process.
| En español El Departamento de Ecología le invita a comentar sobre un reporte ambiental para el sitio que está contaminado Georgia-Pacific West en Bellingham. Si le gustaría recibir este documento en español, por favor llame al 509-329-3444 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. |
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.
Estimated Site Timeline
- July 6 – August 4, 2021: Held a 30-day public comment period.
- July 14, 2021: Hosted an online public meeting. (Download meeting presentation)
- Late 2021: Finalize the cleanup action plan and associated documents. Ecology reviewed and considered all comments received and responded accordingly. (Download Response to Comments)
- 2021-2023: Estimated time to complete design of the cleanup action. The Port will sequence completion of engineering design documents for four separate components of the cleanup action.
- 2023-2025: Estimated timeframe for sequenced implementation (construction) of the cleanup action
Implementation of the cleanup action will occur under a future separate legal agreement, which will be issued for public review and comment.
Public Participation
Current Georgia Pacific West cleanup site Public Participation Plan
This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the Site cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public.
This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the Site cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public.
Site Description
Site History
The approximately 74-acre Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site is located at 300 West Laurel Street, on the south side of Whatcom Waterway, in Bellingham. A pulp and tissue mill operated at the site from 1926 through 2007. The Port of Bellingham acquired property within the site from Georgia-Pacific Corporation in January 2005, and plans to use the property for commercial, retail, and residential purposes.
Environmental investigations of the site showed contamination in two separate and distinct areas. As a result, in 2013, the port and Ecology agreed to divide the site into two separate cleanup areas to expedite cleanup and support redevelopment. The two areas are known as the Pulp and Tissue Mill area and the Chlor-Alkali area.
In 2011 and 2013, interim cleanup actions were conducted to remove contaminated soils and building materials from the site. The cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill area was completed in 2016.
Contamination
Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (38 acres) contamination addressed (cleanup completed in 2016):
• metals
• low pH
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• volatile organic compounds
• dioxins/furans
Chlor-Alkali Area (36 acres) contaminates include:
• mercury
• high pH (caustic)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• petroleum hydrocarbons
Contaminant levels within the Chlor-Alkali Area are present at potentially harmful levels and must be addressed under Washington's toxics cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The Georgia-Pacific West site is one of 12 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.
The approximately 74-acre Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site is located at 300 West Laurel Street, on the south side of Whatcom Waterway, in Bellingham. A pulp and tissue mill operated at the site from 1926 through 2007. The Port of Bellingham acquired property within the site from Georgia-Pacific Corporation in January 2005, and plans to use the property for commercial, retail, and residential purposes.
Environmental investigations of the site showed contamination in two separate and distinct areas. As a result, in 2013, the port and Ecology agreed to divide the site into two separate cleanup areas to expedite cleanup and support redevelopment. The two areas are known as the Pulp and Tissue Mill area and the Chlor-Alkali area.
In 2011 and 2013, interim cleanup actions were conducted to remove contaminated soils and building materials from the site. The cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill area was completed in 2016.
Contamination
Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (38 acres) contamination addressed (cleanup completed in 2016):
• metals
• low pH
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• volatile organic compounds
• dioxins/furans
Chlor-Alkali Area (36 acres) contaminates include:
• mercury
• high pH (caustic)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• petroleum hydrocarbons
Contaminant levels within the Chlor-Alkali Area are present at potentially harmful levels and must be addressed under Washington's toxics cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The Georgia-Pacific West site is one of 12 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.
Key Documents
- Chlor-Alkali Area Cleanup Action Plan (2021)
- Chlor-Alkali Area Feasibility Study (2018)
- Chlor-Alkali Area Feasibility Study Appendices (2018)
- Interim Action Report - Chlor-Alkali Area (2018)
- Interim Action Report Appendices - Chlor-Alkali Area (2018)
- Interim Action Work Plan – Chlor-Alkali Area (2016)
- Consent Decree (2014)
- Consent Decree Exhibits A-G (2014)
Documents 74
Legal 12
Map 2
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Georgia Pacfic West Chlor-Alkali Area Map | 6/6/2018 | Map |
| Georgia-Pacific West Map: Potential Areas for early remedial actions | 12/1/2010 | Map |
Public Information 21
State Environmental Policy Act 3
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Georgia-Pacific West - Chlor-Alkali Area - SEPA Determination of Non-significance - July 2021 | 7/6/2021 | SEPA Documents |
| Georgia Pacific West - SEPA Determination of Non-Significance - November 2014 | 11/12/2014 | SEPA Documents |
| Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy - SEPA - Environmental Impact Statement | 10/1/2000 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 36
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 Office15700 Dayton Ave NShoreline, 98133Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
-
Ecology Bellingham Field Office913 Squalicum Way, Unit 101Bellingham, 98225This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 2
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | C | C | R | |||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified | 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.