Georgia-Pacific West Bellingham

Last Updated: February 2025

2022 Fact Sheet | Información en español

Lignin Operable Unit Cleaned Up & Affordable Housing in Place
The Lignin Operable Unit, covering approximately 4 acres, is located within the Chlor-Alkali Area of the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site (GP West) at the corner of W. Laurel Street and Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham (see map). Ecology and the Port of Bellingham (Port) prioritized cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit to enable Mercy Housing Northwest to purchase a portion of the property for redevelopment as affordable
housing. 

In 2022, after a public comment period, Ecology finalized the cleanup action plan and associated legal agreements (consent decree amendment and prospective purchaser consent decree) for the Lignin Operable Unit.

By the end of 2022, the Port of Bellingham completed the engineering design report and the cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit. Mercy Housing Northwest then purchased a portion of the property from the Port and begin redevelopment in 2023. Construction of the Mercy Millworks affordable housing was completed in early 2024.

Want to learn more?

• Visit our 2022 blog to read about the cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit.
• Take a virtual site tour. These videos were funded through a Public Participation Grant from Ecology.

Remaining Chlor-Alkali Area Continues Toward Cleanup
The design (engineering) of the cleanup action plan is underway through the completion of multiple pre-remedial design investigations for the remaining Chlor-Alkali Area of the GP West site — see “Technical Reports” below to review these documents. 

• 2025-2026: Complete the design (engineering) of the cleanup action for the remaining Chlor-Alkali Area.
• 2027-2028: Hold a public comment period for the amended legal agreement (consent decree) requiring the Port to complete engineering design documents and clean up the remaining Chlor-Alkali Area. Begin the cleanup.

Join our email list to receive updates about the Georgia-Pacific West Bellingham 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 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. 

Background & Location
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 (or early partial cleanups) 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
The Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (38 acres) was cleaned up in 2016, and the following contamination was addressed: 
• metals
• low pH
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• volatile organic compounds
• dioxins/furans

The Chlor-Alkali Area (36 acres) is addressing the following contamination: 
• 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 Action Team
The Georgia-Pacific West site is one of 12 sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Action Team (BBAT). BBAT 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.

 

   

   

   

   

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.