Xytec Clorox Lakewood

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.

Petroleum-contaminated soil was found in the Xytec loading dock area. There may have been above ground hydraulic oil tanks and/or waste oil tanks previously located in the vicinity of the loading dock area. To clean it up, soil was dug up, treated, and replaced with clean soil. An asphalt cap covers the area that was excavated, but not all the contaminated soil could be removed without disturbing the integrity of the building. 

In 1999 and environmental covenant was filed with the county because some contamination remains at the site. Among the restriction, the covenant prevents future exposure to contaminated soil. 

Ecology visited the site on July 15, 2021. The asphalt cover and the buildings are in satisfactory condition and prevent exposure of people and the environment to the contaminated soil. 

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. No comments were received during the comment period and we finalized the third periodic review report. 

Third Periodic Review Report Final.

The former Xytec Plastics facility is located at 9314 47th Avenue SW in south Tacoma in the Lakewood/Tacoma Industrial Park.  Starting in the late 1970s, several different companies made plastic products at the site. 

A 1990 investigation found soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.  Ecology thinks the petroleum may have come from tanks holding hydraulic oil and waste oil.

In 1993, Clorox dug up 1,550 tons of contaminated soil and sent them for “thermal treatment”, which burns the petroleum out of the soils.  Clorox then filled in the area with clean soils and covered it with an asphalt cap. 

However, some petroleum contamination remains in the soil, under the cap.  The site has what we call a "restrictive covenant."  It ensures that current and future property owners take care of the cap and inform anyone leasing space in the buildings.