Tacoma Boatbuilding Ace Tank

Environmental cleanup is complete at the site and the third periodic review shows the cleanup work remains effective in protecting the health of people and the environment.

In 1989, US Environmental Protection Agency found metal contamination associated with sand-blasting had contaminated the upland soil, an intertidal area, and sediment in a boat launching area. Petroleum was found in the groundwater near a previously removed underground storage tank. To cleanup it up, contaminated soil was excavated from upland and intertidal area and from the boat launching area down to an elevation of mean low water. Storm drains were cleaned and petroleum-contaminated soil was removed. Some contaminated soil was covered by pavement and remains at the site. 

In 1999, an environmental covenant was filed with the county because some contamination remains at the site. The covenant prevents any activity that may result in the release or exposure to the contamination or that creates a new exposure pathway without prior approval from Ecology. With the covenant in place, Ecology reviews conditions about every five years to ensure continued long-term effectiveness of the cleanup action.

Ecology visited the site on April 14, 2021. The asphalt/concrete surfaces at the site are intact and in good condition. The surfaces continue to eliminate direct exposure pathways (ingestion, contact) to contaminated soils, and appear to be effective in eliminating stormwater percolation into contaminated soils below the cap. Exterior portions of the Site are no longer used for shipbuilding, sandblasting, or other waste-generating activities. Metal fabrication takes place inside several of the structures, but there is no evidence of waste materials being tracked out into the open where stormwater may carry them to the Hylebos Waterway.

From November 2 to December 3, 2023, Ecology held a comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on conditions at the site. We received no comments so we finalized the third periodic review report. 

Third Periodic Review Report Final.

The Tacoma Boatbuilding site is located at 1840 Marine View Drive in Tacoma. Tacoma Boatbuilding Company used the site for steel and aluminum shipbuilding and repair from 1970 - 1992. The property is currently owned by Jesse Engineering and used for large-scale metal fabrication.
 
In 1983, portions of Commencement Bay waters and surrounding land were added to the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List (Superfund site list). The Tacoma Boatbuilding site was named as a source of upland and sediment contamination. 
 
Testing from 1991 – 1996 showed that soil and sediments along the banks and in the Hylebos Waterway were contaminated with sandblasting grit from the site. The grit contained arsenic, copper and zinc at concentrations exceeding the EPA’s sediment quality objectives. Testing also showed that groundwater was contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
 
The EPA signed a consent order with Tacoma Boatbuilding Company in 1991 to begin cleanup activities. However, Tacoma Boatbuilding Company filed for bankruptcy in 1992. Ace Tank and Equipment (Ace Tank) completed a remedial investigation and feasibility study for the site in 1996. In 1998, Ace Tank entered into a Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree (legal agreement) with Ecology. The decree required Ace Tank to clean up the site and settled liability between Ecology and the company. Ace Tank also entered into an agreement and covenant not to sue with the EPA, U.S. Department of the Interior, the Puyallup Indian Tribe, and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
 
Ace Tank completed the cleanup from 1998 - 1999. They removed and disposed of equipment, solid materials and debris, and cleaned the site pavement and storm drains. Ace Tank excavated and disposed of about 4,600 tons of sandblast grit and soil and sediments containing sandblast grit. Contaminated sediments from the shoreline down to the depth of the existing pier were removed. Deeper sediments were cleaned up later as part of the EPA Superfund cleanup.

Ace Tank also recorded an environmental covenant for the site in 1999. The covenant prohibits activities that could result in the release of contaminants that remain at the site.