Facility Site ID: 1002 Cleanup Site ID: 28

Site Description

K Ply site
K Ply site

The K Ply site, which is also known as PenPly or Peninsula Plywood, is located at 439 Marine Drive in Port Angeles. The Port of Port Angeles (port) owns the property.

From 1941 to 2011, a plywood mill operated on the K Ply property under various owners. 

Liquids found in petroleum products and some manufacturing processes, hydraulic oil, and a chemical used to treat wood contaminated the soil and groundwater.

In the beginning of the cleanup process, we thought the K Ply and Marine Trades Area  were one site. But investigations at the Marine Trades Area from 2005 to 2011 showed there were separate sources of contamination at the two locations. 

View our status update on Port Angeles Harbor cleanup sites.

Partial Cleanup And Site Investigation

Agreed Order DE 9546 required the port to do a partial cleanup and develop a Remedial Investigation (RI), Feasibility Study (FS), and preliminary draft Cleanup Action Plan (CAP) for the K Ply site.

In 2013, the port completed a partial cleanup when they tore down the former mill and stabilized the site.

In 2015, after holding a public comment period, we finalized the RI/FS, CAP, and Agreed Order DE 11302 to implement the CAP.  

Site Cleanup

Excavation of contaminated soil at the K Ply site.
Excavation of contaminated soil at the K Ply site.

In 2015, the port began cleanup construction.

Soil cleanup. The port removed over 50,000 tons of contaminated soil. They kept the clean soil on the site and reused it during construction.

Groundwater cleanup. The port used bioremediation to clean up contaminated groundwater. They added nutrients and oxygen to excavated areas before adding clean soil. The nutrients and oxygen encourage natural organisms to grow. These organisms use contaminants for food, which breaks down the contaminants. This will reduce contaminant levels. 

Soil and groundwater monitoring. The port continues to check soil and groundwater contamination levels until cleanup standards are met.

Environmental covenant: In 2017, an environmental covenant was filed with the county because some contamination remains at the site. The covenant prohibits any activity that may result in the release or exposure to the contamination or that creates a new exposure pathway without prior approval by Ecology. With the covenant in place, we review conditions about every five years to ensure continued long-term effectiveness of the cleanup action.

The first five-year review is underway and the periodic review report will be available for public comment when complete.

Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect

Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.

Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 2017-1351541
County Recording Date: 6/29/2017

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Maintain/Protect Monitoring System
  • Restrict Domestic Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
  • Restrict Land Use
  • Vapor Intrusion Assessment Required Prior to Building Construction

Restricted Media

  • Air
  • Groundwater
  • Soil
Legal 8
Document Title Document Date Document Type
K Ply Environmental Covenant 6/29/2017 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Release from Remedial Action Order No. DE 90-S255 10/3/2016 Order Notice of Satisfaction/Status
Satisfaction of Agreed Order No. DE 9546 9/28/2016 Order Notice of Satisfaction/Status
K Ply Agreed Order 2015 5/19/2015 Agreed Order
K Ply- Final PLP 11/6/2014 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
K Ply Agreed Order 10/15/2012 Agreed Order
Marine Trades Area Agreed Order for a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study 12/19/2005 Agreed Order
K Ply Remedial Action Order 10/30/1990 Agreed Order
Public Information 9
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Habor Update Information Sheet March 2023 3/28/2023 Focus Sheet
Responsiveness Summary 2015 5/19/2015 Responsiveness Summary
K Ply Fact Sheet 2015 3/23/2015 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
K Ply Public Participation Plan 3/23/2015 Public Participation Plan
K Ply Agreed Order and IAWP Responsiveness Summary 4/30/2013 Responsiveness Summary
K Ply AO IAWP Open House Presentation 10/22/2012 Multimedia
K Ply Agreed Order and Interim Action Plan Comment Period Fact Sheet 10/8/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
K Ply Public Participation Plan 10/8/2012 Public Participation Plan
Marine Trades Area Fact Sheet for Agreed Order Comment Period 12/1/2005 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
State Environmental Policy Act 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
K Ply SEPA DNS and Checklist 3/26/2015 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 8
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Proposed Activity and Use Restrictions at K Ply 5/23/2017 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
K Ply Site Construction Completion Report 12/20/2016 Final Cleanup Action Report
K Ply Site Engineering Design Report 8/14/2015 Engineering Design Report
K Ply CAP May 2015 5/19/2015 Cleanup Action Plan
K Ply Site Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study 5/19/2015 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Supplemental Data Collection Technical Memorandum 1/27/2014 Site Specific Technical Document - other
K Ply Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan 9/4/2013 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
K Ply Interim Action Work Plan 10/15/2012 Interim Action Documents
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

  • Southwest Regional Office
    300 Desmond Dr SE
    Lacey, 98503-1274
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.

Contaminants 7

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Non-Halogenated Organics - Phenolic Compounds C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents C C
Halogenated Organics - Dioxins/Furans B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Benzene C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other C 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.