Facility Site ID: 2870 Cleanup Site ID: 3928

Current Status

Aerial map of RG Haley site on Bellingham waterfront
Aerial map of RG Haley site on Bellingham waterfront
Last Updated: May 2022

Información en español abajo 
 
Response to Comments
Response to Comments Summary (April 2022)

Blog
"Cleaning up: Getting ready for more Bellingham Bay cleanup" (April 2022)


 
Outreach Materials (2022)
Fact Sheet
Postcard


Engineering Design Report

Report, Tables, Figures
Appendix A Part 1
Appendix A Part 2
Appendices B through I


Virtual Site Tour

www.re-sources.org/RGHaley
Visit webpage for an informational virtual tour video.

This tour is funded through a Public Participation Grant from Ecology. 

RG Haley site continues towards cleanup
Ecology held a 30-day public comment period (January 31 – March 1, 2022) on the engineering design report (see links above) for the RG Haley cleanup site (Site) on the Bellingham waterfront. The report represents 30% completion of design work and provides details, refining the cleanup action selected by Ecology in 2018.  

Through a legal agreement with Ecology, the City of Bellingham (City) completed a pre-design investigation then prepared the engineering design report. Following public review, the City will use the report to develop construction plans and specifications.

Ecology has reviewed and considered the public comments received on the engineering design report. Based on Ecology’s evaluation of the comments, no changes were necessary in the document, and it is final.

Later in 2022 through 2023, the City will proceed with permitting activities and additional investigation to develop 60, 90 and 100% complete construction plans and specifications.

Also in 2023, Ecology expects to issue a legal agreement for public review requiring the City to implement the construction plans and specifications. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024.

En español

El Departamento de Ecología le invita a revisor los documentos para el sitio que está contaminado RG Haley en Bellingham.  

Si le gustaría recibir este documento en español, por favor llame a 425-324-5901 y espere a que un intérprete se una a la llamada o envíe un correo electrónico a preguntas@ecy.wa.gov.  Traducciones de avisos públicos para los sitios de limpieza de la Bahía de Bellingham se preparan bajo solicitud.

General Cleanup Process

Click graphic to enlarge
Click graphic to enlarge
The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology enacts the MTCA and oversees cleanups.

The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps (see graphic) over a variable timeline.

Estimated Site Timeline

  • January 31 – March 1, 2022:  Ecology held a public comment period on the Engineering Design Report.
  • February 8, 2022: RE Sources hosted an on-site walking tour through an Ecology Public Participation Grant.
  • 2022:  Ecology will address public comments and will work to finalize the engineering design report (representing 30% complete design work).
  • 2022/2023:  City will proceed with permitting activities and additional investigation to develop 60, 90 and 100% complete construction plans and specifications.

Also in 2023, Ecology expects to issue a legal agreement requiring the City to implement the construction plans and specifications for public review. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024.

Public Participation

Current RG Haley cleanup site Public Participation Plan 

This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the Site cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public. 

Site Description

RG Haley Site, with adjacent Cornwall Avenue Landfill Site to the right
RG Haley Site, with adjacent Cornwall Avenue Landfill Site to the right

Background
From the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, the Site was used for industries including lumber, coal and wharf operations. Various companies treated wood on the property. RG Haley International Corporation was the last company to treat wood there (1955 to 1985). The preservative used in the wood-treating operations was pentachlorophenol mixed with a diesel-like carrier oil. This mixture was released during operations, contaminating soil, groundwater, and sediment. 

Location
The Site is located at the end of Cornwall Avenue on the Bellingham waterfront and consists of approximately 6 upland acres and approximately 60 acres of in-water area. 

The City of Bellingham owns the majority of the upland portion of the Site and the State of Washington owns the majority of the in-water portion. 

Contamination
The City completed an environmental investigation (called a Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study) of the Site.  The remedial investigation found petroleum hydrocarbons, pentachlorophenol (PCP), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dioxins/furans at concentrations in the soil, groundwater, and sediment that must be addressed under the MTCA.

Bellingham Bay cleanup
Other contaminants from nearby overlapping sites are also present at the Site. They include mercury in sediment from the Whatcom Waterway site, and municipal refuse, phthalates, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the Cornwall Avenue Landfill site. Ecology is overseeing cleanup activities at these sites as well. (See map above.)

Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The RG Haley site is one of 12 sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot.  The Pilot is a bay-wide multi-agency effort to clean up contaminated sediment, control sources of sediment contamination, and restore habitat, with consideration for land and water uses. In 2000, participants in this initiative developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.

Legal 4
Document Title Document Date Document Type
RG Haley - Agreed Order Final - June 2018 6/1/2018 Agreed Order
RG Haley - Agreed Order 2nd Amendment 8/14/2013 Agreed Order Amendment
RG Haley - Agreed Order 1st Amendment 10/15/2010 Agreed Order Amendment
RG Haley - Agreed Order - Remedial Investigation & Feasibility Study 4/5/2004 Agreed Order
Map 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Ecology New Office Location - January 2018 1/8/2018 Map
RG Haley - Site Location Map 8/17/2015 Map
Public Information 14
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
RG Haley-SEPA-DNS-Checklist - February 2018 2/1/2018 SEPA Documents
Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy - SEPA - Environmental Impact Statement 10/1/2000 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 31
Document Title Document Date Document Type
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Data Report, Marine Unit, Appendix B (3 of 3) - October 2022 10/25/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Data Report, Marine Unit, Appendix B (2 of 3) - October 2022 10/25/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Data Report, Marine Unit, Appendix B (1 of 3) - October 2022 10/25/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Data Report, Marine Unit, Appendix A and C - October 2022 10/25/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Data Report, Marine Unit, Text, Tables and Figures - October 2022 10/25/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Engineering Design Report Appendices B through I - May 2022 5/13/2022 Engineering Design Report
RG Haley - Engineering Design Report Appendix A Part 2 - May 2022 5/13/2022 Engineering Design Report
RG Haley - Engineering Design Report Appendix A Part 1 - May 2022 5/13/2022 Engineering Design Report
RG Haley - Engineering Design Report, Tables, Figure - May 2022 5/13/2022 Engineering Design Report
RG Haley - Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Work Plan - Marine Unit - March 2022 3/18/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley International - Ecology Project Coord Change Letter 3/22/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Project Plans - Habitat Survey 11/27/2018 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Pre-Remedial Design Investigation Project Plans - Upland 8/22/2018 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Cleanup Action Plan - April 2018 4/2/2018 Cleanup Action Plan
RG Haley - h. Final Feasibility Study - Vol. 2 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - g. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Appendices I-M 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - f. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Appendices A-H 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - e. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Section 7,8, References 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - d. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Section 6 figures 44-64 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - c. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Section 6 figures 1-43 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - b. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Section 6 text & tables 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
RG Haley - a. Final Remedial Investigation - Vol. 1, Sections 1-5 2/1/2016 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Final Work Plan, Supplemental Sediment Investigation, R.G. Haley Site 8/21/2015 Sampling and Analysis Plan
Data Gaps Assessment (April 2011) 3/26/2015 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - Interim Cleanup Action - Completion Report part 2 (Appendix C) 2/26/2014 Interim Action Documents
RG Haley - Interim Cleanup Action - Completion Report part 1 2/26/2014 Interim Action Documents
RG Haley Interim Action Work Plan 6/12/2013 Interim Action Documents
RG Haley - Petroleum Seep Interim Action Memo 3/4/2013 Interim Action Documents
RG Haley - Supplemental Investigation Work Plan 2/23/2012 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
Sediment Site Characterization Evaluation - Bellingham Bay 6/26/2009 Site Specific Technical Document - other
RG Haley - public comments on Draft Agreed Order 8/17/2004 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
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

  • Northwest Regional Office
    15700 Dayton Ave N
    Shoreline, 98133
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
  • Ecology Bellingham Field Office
    913 Squalicum Way, Unit 101
    Bellingham, 98225
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 5

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Other Contaminant - Base/Neutral/Acid Organics C C C
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified C
Halogenated Organics - Dioxins/Furans C C C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons C 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.