International Paper Longview

Last Updated October 13, 2026  

The draft cleanup action plan (dCAP) for the maintenance facility area (MFA) at the International Paper Longview site went through a public comment period from January 18th through March 8th, 2021. The CAP was finalized May 5, 2021 and the Final CAP and Ecology's response to comments can be found in the "Documents" drop down menu below.   

The Final CAP describes the approved remedy as follows: 

-Remove clean surface soil and stockpile on-site for grading. 
-Excavate contaminated soil from 3 to 4.5 feet and send to a specialized landfill. 
-Solidify remaining contaminated soil from 4.5 to 9 feet in-place to prevent potential leaching of contamination to the groundwater. 
-Replace clean surface soil, regrade to existing topography, and install asphalt cover system. 
-Finalize a protective environmental covenant for the MFA site. 
-Treat contaminated groundwater by a series of chemical oxidation injections.  
-Continued monitoring of natural attenuation of contamination of groundwater.   

The draft update to the Consent Decree will recognize the MFA as a part of the cleanup site, identify the Port of Longview as one of the signatories to the CD, and provides the Final CAP as an Exhibit to the CD. 

Last Updated October 13, 2026  

The draft cleanup action plan (dCAP) for the maintenance facility area (MFA) at the International Paper Longview site went through a public comment period from January 18th through March 8th, 2021. The CAP was finalized May 5, 2021 and the Final CAP and Ecology's response to comments can be found in the "Documents" drop down menu below.   

The Final CAP describes the approved remedy as follows: 

-Remove clean surface soil and stockpile on-site for grading. 
-Excavate contaminated soil from 3 to 4.5 feet and send to a specialized landfill. 
-Solidify remaining contaminated soil from 4.5 to 9 feet in-place to prevent potential leaching of contamination to the groundwater. 
-Replace clean surface soil, regrade to existing topography, and install asphalt cover system. 
-Finalize a protective environmental covenant for the MFA site. 
-Treat contaminated groundwater by a series of chemical oxidation injections.  
-Continued monitoring of natural attenuation of contamination of groundwater.   

The draft update to the Consent Decree will recognize the MFA as a part of the cleanup site, identify the Port of Longview as one of the signatories to the CD, and provides the Final CAP as an Exhibit to the CD. 

Between 1937 and 1982, International Paper treated wood in the Treated Wood Products (TWP) Area. Between 1947 and 1953, wastewater from the wood-treatment process was moved through a ditch to a nearby impoundment located in the area now called the MFA. In 1953, International Paper stopped discharging liquid wastes to the MFA and switched to two ponds within the TWP Area. In 1982, International Paper stopped treating wood. In 1985, International Paper excavated some of the contaminated soils in the TWP Area. In 1989, the remaining contaminated soils were capped.

The Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) public comment period was from August 17 - October 2, 2017.

There were ten soil cleanup options outlined in the RI/FS prepared by International Paper as well as another alternative proposed by the Port of Longview. The options included a variety of excavation, disposal, and treatment activities. All soil cleanup options included:

- An environmental covenant that places conditions on future excavation at the site until soil cleanup levels are achieved.

- An asphalt pavement to prevent direct contact with soil because some contaminated soil will remain on site.

- Groundwater monitoring to make sure contamination is not spreading.

There were four groundwater cleanup options outlined in the draft RI/FS, including using chemical oxidation treatment to degrade contamination and monitored natural attenuation.

During the 45-day comment period, Ecology had an open house and public hearing in Longview. About 30 people came and 10 people gave oral comments. In total, we received 24 comments about this cleanup site. In addition to our public open house and hearing, we met with interested people, including environmental staff from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region X, The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Tribe.

Our responses to public comments are available in our Responsiveness Summary. 

Cleanup options were evaluated in the final Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study report.

Operations at the TWP Area were discontinued in 1982, and International Paper dismantled the wood treatment operations, with the exception of the boiler house and the treatment building foundation. They submitted a closure plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ecology in 1985. In 1985, International Paper excavated contaminated soils from several locations in the TWP Area, including two surface impoundments - ponds designed to hold liquid waste materials.

The excavated soil was disposed of at a permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSD). International Paper capped remaining contaminated soils in the former ponds and process areas with a low permeability cover in 1989. Nearly all structures in the TWP Area (buildings, tanks, and related hardware) were removed or capped as part of closure activities.

In 1997, the Department of Ecology requested additional cleanup in the TWP Area to ensure long-term protection of human health and the environment.
 
In 1997 and 1998, International Paper: 

• Constructed a subsurface barrier wall around the TWP Area to contain contaminated soil and groundwater.
• Capped the area with an additional low permeability cover.
• Installed systems to remove floating light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) within the contained area.
• Installed a treatment system that added oxygen to contaminated soil to increase the rate that microorganisms consumed contaminants.
• Installed groundwater monitoring wells to monitor the subsurface barrier wall.