K Ply

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. 

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.  

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.