Arkema Inc

2901 Taylor Way Tacoma, Pierce County
Facility Site ID: 1220
Cleanup Site ID: 3405

More about cleanup

Site Description

The Arkema site sits on the Hylebos Waterway, next to several other cleanup sites.
The Arkema site sits on the Hylebos Waterway, next to several other cleanup sites.

The Arkema Inc. site is located at 2901 Taylor Way in Tacoma. The property sits on the shore of the Hylebos Waterway and is bordered to the south by theAtofina Chem 3009 Taylor Way Log Yard cleanup site. 

The former chemical plant made products such as chlorine, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), hydrochloric acid, and Penite (an herbicide containing arsenic). Production stopped in 1997 and most of the buildings were torn down. The Port of Tacoma bought the property in 2007, assuming liability for the cleanup.

Pollution At The Site

Arkema main gate, viewed from Taylor Way (2007)
Arkema main gate, viewed from Taylor Way (2007)

Wastes created during Penite production were dumped into pits. Arsenic leached from the pits into soil and groundwater beneath the site, and into nearby sediments.  Wastewater from the plant was released into two areas of the site.

One area, “Taylor Lake”, contained several ponds. Some ponds are highly caustic (high pH), while others have high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants. A 1985 storage tank rupture contaminated soil with sodium chlorate and hexavalent chromium.

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 #: 9302020332
County Recording Date: 1/18/1993

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Ongoing Maintenance of Remedy

Restricted Media

  • Soil
Places to see print documents
No documents found.
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 5

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics C C R RA
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants C C R RA
Reactive Wastes - Corrosive Wastes C C R RA
Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Inorganic C C R RA
Metals - Arsenic 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.