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
Legal 4
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Arkema Inc. Agreed Order 2011 7/25/2011 Agreed Order
Arkema Inc Restrictive Covenant January 1993 1/18/1993 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
ELF Atochem Consent Decree 7/23/1992 Consent Decree
Arkema Inc Consent Decree 6/24/1987 Consent Decree
Public Information 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Arkema Inc. Public Participation Plan 6/3/2011 Public Participation Plan
Arkema Inc. Agreed Order Fact Sheet 6/1/2011 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Arkema Inc SEPA DNS (Wypenn Interim Action) 10/1/2013 SEPA Documents
Arkema Wypenn Interim Action SEPA Checklist 9/3/2013 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 15
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Expanded RTC Data Gaps Investigation Work Plan 6/28/2023 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
North Boundary Area Focused Feasibility Study Report 6/28/2023 Feasibility Study
Arkema Inc. - Ecology Review Feasibility Study 8/25/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Arkema Inc - Feasibility Study 4/1/2021 Feasibility Study
Fifth Five-Year Review Report for Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Superfund Site 5/1/2020 Periodic Review (5 Year)
Appendix F Through J to the Data Gap Study 7/25/2019 Remedial Investigation Report
Appendix E to the Data Gap Study Report 7/25/2019 Remedial Investigation Report
Appendix A to D to Data Gap Study 7/25/2019 Remedial Investigation Report
Feasibility Study Data Gap Investigation Report 7/25/2019 Remedial Investigation Report
Cost Allocation Report _NBA Appendix D Historical Photographs 7/21/2017 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Cost Allocation Report - North Boundary Area 7/21/2017 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Arkema- Comments on feasability Study 9/12/2016 Feasibility Study
Wypenn Interim Action Report 1/14/2015 Interim Action Documents
Remedial Action Area - Former Arkema Wypenn Property 5/6/2014 Remedial Action Report
Final Remedial Investigation Report 9/17/2013 Remedial Investigation Report
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.