East Bay Redevelopment

Ecology is currently reviewing the cleanup construction reports. We are also reviewing several environmental covenants that are needed. We will continue to monitor the soil cover and pavement caps to make sure that they continue to protect human health and the environment. 

Any new activity that disturbs the cap (like constructing a building) will require Ecology’s review and approval. We will update this website with any changes to the cleanup legal agreement (agreed order).

Read the factsheet for more information about the cleanup.

From the late 1880s until 1968, the site was used for timber-related industries. Since then, the site has been used for commercial and light industrial activities and storage. Previous users included a sawmill, planing mill, shingle mill, and plywood manufacturers.

Historic activities caused soil and groundwater contamination. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans, and metals were detected above state cleanup levels in soil. Investigations also revealed TPHs and metals in groundwater above state cleanup levels or screening levels.

The Port of Olympia (port) entered the Voluntary Cleanup Program in January 2007.  The site was transferred to a formal cleanup process in February 2008. 

In June 2010, LOTT Cleanup Water Alliance (LOTT) and the City of Olympia (city) purchased two parcels that are part of the East Bay site.  The city, LOTT, and the port are now all responsible for the cleanup of the East Bay Redevelopment site.  All three parties entered into a legal agreement (Agreed Order) to continue with site work. 

From 2009-2012, two partial cleanups (interim actions) were done to remove and contain contaminated soil on the southern half of the site. We conducted this cleanup during infrastructure construction of the Hands On Children's Museum, the LOTT and East Bay public plazas, and associated roads.

In 2017, Ecology worked with the City of Olympia, the Port of Olympia, and LOTT to implement the Cleanup Action Plan for the site. To clean up the site, some soil contamination hot spots were removed. Contaminated soil that remained was covered with a cap of clean soil, pavement, or buildings. Tests showed that the groundwater is no longer contaminated.