Occidental Chemical Corp
What's New?
Last Updated Feb. 11, 2020
Final Agreed Order Signed
The Agreed Order (AO) between Ecology and Occidental is now finalized. In the AO, you'll find:
Requirements for Occidental to draft a cleanup action plan.
Seasonal Water Level Monitoring Plan
Monitoring Plan
Work plan for doing a groundwater pumping test
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Site Background
This former manufacturer of chlorine, bleach, and other chemicals for the paper industry is no longer operating. The above-ground features of the manufacturing plant are removed, and little remains of the industrial equipment except for the groundwater treatment plant. Other activities on-site includ ship-building and dismantling and chemical manufacturing.
Primary products produced on-site include:
- Chlorine and chlorinated solvents (TCE and PCE)
- Caustic soda
- Ammonia
- Calcium chloride
- Muriatic acid.
Site History
Prior to 1920: Undeveloped tidal mudflats.
1920-1936: Area filled with dredge material as part of an upland expansion project.
1929-2002: Occidental Chemical Corporation (Occidental) and its predecessors make chemicals. Other owners and operators during this period include the US Navy, US Defense Plant Corporation, Todd Shipyards, and Pioneer Americas.
1988-2004: EPA conducted a RCRA Facility Investigation and later activities to investigate the site.
2005: Ecology and the EPA issued a Statement of Work for the Administrative Order on Consent. These documents guide site investigation activities.
2006-2008: Occidental demolished former manufacturing facilities.
2005-Present: Occidental conducted numerous investigations to assess impacts to on-Site and off-Site soil, groundwater, sediment, and soil vapor.
Site Contamination
The primary contaminants include:
- Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs)
- Sodium hydroxide
- Salt (sodium chloride)
- Metals
- By-products of chlorinated solvent production
- Poly-chlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
- Dioxins/furans
Soil contamination
CVOCs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), PCBs, and metals are present in Site soil. CVOC and HCB impacts are found on Site and beneath the Hylebos Waterway. There are PCBs and metals impacts primarily along the embankment.
Groundwater contamination
The groundwater is contaminated with CVOCs, dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) consisting of concentrated PCE and TCE, and elevated pH.
The CVOC plume extends to the north from below the Site to the northern end of the peninsula and under Commencement Bay, and to the east below the Hylebos Waterway. The plume gets deeper as it extends away from the Site. The depth of the CVOC plume extends to 160 ft below sea level.
The pH plume is mostly below the Site, but does extend to the north under the peninsula and to the west under the Hylebos Waterway. The depth of the pH plume extends to 100 ft below sea level. Other contaminants including HCB, PCBs, and metals were found in groundwater, but in localized areas.
Proximity of the facility to the Hylebos Waterway poses unique challenges for measuring the contamination. More than one study was conducted over the years to attempt to understand the hydrogeology. Efforts over the past two years have focused on filling data gaps and supplementing remedial investigation data.
Impacts Of Contamination
Chemicals could enter the body three ways: breathing dust, touching contaminated soil, or swallowing contaminated soil or groundwater. Based on the current risk assessment, there is no direct risk to the public of exposure to these chemicals. Only authorized persons may enter the site area. Cleanup workers at the site follow a site safety plan developed and overseen by Occidental and its contractors. The plan limits the workers’ direct contact with contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment, or breathing in indoor air at the site and at the neighboring Port of Tacoma property. Air samples taken in the buildings in and near the site showed CVOC levels below industrial standards. This means, in an industrial setting, potential exposure is below a level that would pose a risk to adult humans.
People that consume resident fish and shellfish from the Hylebos creek may have an indirect risk of exposure. Ecology is addressing this indirect risk and will keep the public updated. Find more information about healthy fish consumption at Washington Department of Health’s website.
Shellfish harvesting is closed in Commencement Bay due to pollution. Find out more by visiting Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Safe Shellfish program's website.
Contamination does not affect public drinking water. If you have a private well nearby, please contact Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 253-798-6470.
Cleanup
A Remedial Investigation (RI) is an in-depth study to:
- Determine site features such as groundwater flow, sediment type, and other factors.
- Define the type and extent of contamination.
- Assess potential effects on human health and the environment.
- Establish cleanup criteria.
Ecology approved the RI Report with specific wording changes and the removal of references not previously approved by Ecology or EPA. We kept our edits and deletions clear using red strike outs and end notes in the Final RI Report.
While questions remain about certain aspects of the contamination, Ecology believes that sufficient information was collected to proceed to the problem-solving phase of the Feasibility Study (FS).
A Feasibility Study (FS):
- Establishes cleanup criteria.
- Evaluates cleanup alternatives.
- Evaluates cost estimates of cleanup alternatives.
We held a public comment period for the draft feasibility study and other documents in 2017. We received over 150 comments through email, letters, and oral testimony. These comments helped us determine that the feasibility study was complete, but needed some edits. The final Feasibility Study and our Responsiveness Summary are now available. In the Responsiveness Summary, you will find detailed answers to major concerns people raised. You’ll also find technical reports and memos we developed after digging deeper into tough technical issues brought up by public comments.
Your comments will help us decide on a final remedy in the next step - the draft Cleanup Action Plan (CAP). We expect the draft CAP will be available for public comment in early 2020.
A Cleanup Action Plan (CAP):
- Describes the selected cleanup methods.
- States cleanup standards and other requirements.
Documents 68
Legal 8
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Agreed Order No. DE 16943 - Occidental Chemical Company Facility-Site # 4326 | 1/24/2020 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order Exhibit C | 1/26/2017 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order Exhibit B | 1/26/2017 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order Exhibit A | 1/26/2017 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order Exhibit E | 1/17/2017 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order Exhibit D | 1/17/2017 | Agreed Order |
Draft Agreed Order | 1/17/2017 | Agreed Order |
Occidental Chemical Corp Administrative Order on Consent Amendment | 4/23/1997 | Administrative Order on Consent Amendment |
Public Information 13
Technical Reports 47
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
FinalFeasibilityStudyReportwithEcologyEdits | 10/29/2018 | Feasibility Study |
2017 Draft Dangerous Waste Permit | 1/25/2017 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Examination of Silica Preciipitation Gelation and Hydraulic Fouling at the OCC Site | 1/23/2017 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Occidental Response Letter to Agency Comments | 1/17/2017 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Vapor Intrustion Memo | 1/13/2017 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Ecology's Memo re: Occidental Vapor Intrustion Reports | 1/13/2017 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Occidental Response Letter to Agency Comments 12/18/2016 | 12/18/2016 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Porewater Data Report Appendix E: Data Validation | 11/1/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Occidental Porewater Data Report | 11/1/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
RI Report Final | 8/31/2016 | Remedial Investigation Report |
2016 Vapor Intrusion Investigation Report with Ecology Notes | 3/16/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2016 Vapor Intrusion Report Appendix A | 3/16/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2016 Vapor Intrusion Report Appendix C | 3/16/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2016 Vapor Intrusion Report Appendix B | 3/16/2016 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Draft Occidental Chemical Corporation Feasibility Study | 1/25/2016 | Feasibility Study |
Review and Evaluation of Risk Assessment Documents for the Occidental Chemical Corporation Corrective Action Site | 10/30/2015 | Human Health and/or Eco Risk Assessment |
Draft Remedial Investigation/Site Characterization Report | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix A: Historical Aerial Photographs | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix B: Summary of Information Regarding Occidental Site Chemistry Resulting from Past Shipyard Activities | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix C: Sample Collection and Analysis Table | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix D: Bathymetric Plots | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix E: Regional Stratigraphic Logs | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix F: Site Stratigraphic Logs | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix G: eDAT Installation and Use Instructions | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix G: Tacoma Data | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix H: 3D Detailed Stratigraphic Model | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix I: Simplified Stratigraphic Model Approach | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix J: Naturally Occurring Fresh Groundwater-Salt Water Distribution Evaluation | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix J: Seawater Equilibrium | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix K: Groundwater Density Distribution | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix L: Evaluation of Site-Wide Hydraulic Data | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix M: Evaluation of 709-721 Alexander Avenue Hydraulic Data | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix N: Single-Well Response Tests Technical Memorandum | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix O: EVS Mode Parameters | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix P: List of Data Validation Reports | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix Q: Dioxin, Furan, and PCB Congener Data | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix R: Vapor Investigation Report Letter | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix S: DNAPL Assessment | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix T: Layered Adobe PDF Map and Cross-Section Packets | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix U: Natural Attenuation Evaluation | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
RI Appendix V: Exposure Pathway Assessment | 9/30/2015 | Remedial Investigation Report |
Occidental Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Report | 7/1/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2014 Vapor Investigation Report with Ecology Notes | 5/22/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2014 Vapor Investigation Appendix A | 5/22/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2014 Vapor Investigation Appendix C | 5/22/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
2014 Vapor Investigation Appendix B | 5/22/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Final Conceptual Site Model Report | 4/1/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Places to see print documents
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Southwest Regional Office300 Desmond Dr SELacey, 98503-1274Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
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Citizens for a Healthy Bay535 Dock St., Suite 213Tacoma, 98402This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
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Kobetich Library212 Browns Point Blvd. NETacoma, 98422This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 5
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics | C | C | ||||
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | C | |||||
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) | C | |||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents | C | C | C | |||
Reactive Wastes - Corrosive Wastes | C | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated