Facility Site ID: 95275518 Cleanup Site ID: 4484

Public Comment Period July 21, 2016-August 22, 2016

The Department of Ecology proposes removing the Irondale Iron & Steel Plant cleanup site from the Hazardous Sites List. The Hazardous Sites List is a statewide list of contaminated properties.

Ecology has taken several steps at the site to cleanup soil and sediment contamination. Cleanup criteria have been met through cleanup, restoration, and monitoring since 2005. Ecology now proposes removing the site from the Hazardous Sites List.

You are invited to review the materials below and provide comment on the delisting through August 22, 2016.

Current Status

Fox Elder, fourth grade Chimacum Middle School, cuts the ribbon officially re-opening the Park. Photo courtesy of Charlie Bermant, Peninsula Daily News
Fox Elder, fourth grade Chimacum Middle School, cuts the ribbon officially re-opening the Park. Photo courtesy of Charlie Bermant, Peninsula Daily News
The completion of cleanup and restoration work at the former Irondale Iron and Steel site was marked on January 24. Jefferson County officials as well as state agency representatives, members of environmental organizations and local volunteers gathered to celebrate the re-opening of the Irondale Beach County Park.

The event marked the end of cleanup and restoration activities coordinated by Ecology beginning in 2007. The final push began in summer 2012, with all work completed at the end of December. When the work was finished approximately 1.29 acres of new intertidal habitat and 1.65 acres of new backshore habitat had been created. 
 
In addition, the cleanup honored the site as part of the Irondale Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and Washington Heritage Register. Ecology worked with state and federal agencies and tribes to identify and protect structures of historical significance. As much as possible, larger trees were preserved. Ecology also left in place historic elements such as building foundations and the charcoal-fired kilns that show the character of the iron-and-steel producing operations of a hundred years ago
 
The cleanup of the Irondale site has significance beyond the project’s local impact. The Irondale cleanup and restoration was funded by the Puget Sound Initiative, a region-wide effort to restore the health of Sound by 2020. The Irondale story shows how federal, state, and local governments, encouraged and assisted by environmental agencies and volunteers, are making this vision to recover the Sound a reality.

For more information and documents regarding the entire Irondale project, see the history of the site and the project below and view through the link at right.

Site Description

The Former Irondale Iron and Steel site is located 526 Moore Street in Irondale. From 1881 to 1919, iron and steel were produced intermittently at the site by various owners. Steel plant operation during this time contaminated soil, sediment and groundwater.

In 1919, the plant closed and equipment was removed from the site. The site was not cleaned up after closing, and slag and other debris are still present. Some building foundations and the concrete walls of an above-ground fuel tank remain on site.

From 1919 until 2001, the site was owned by several different companies but no additional waste was produced. Most recently, the site was used as a log storage yard by a nearby chipping facility.

Jefferson County purchased the site in 2001 to be used as a recreation area. An initial investigation revealed evidence of hazardous materials. Samples taken then during a site hazard investigation indicated that contamination was not present at a level above cleanup standards for total petroleum hydrocarbons and metals.

In November 2005, a park visitor notified the Department of Ecology (Ecology) about an oily residue on the beach at the site. Investigations from 2007-09 revealed evidence of soil, sediment and groundwater contamination. Contamination was found at locations of former buildings and industrial activities.

The Governor's Puget Sound Initiative, an effort to restore the Sound by 2020, is funding site cleanup. Ecology held a public comment period on a draft Cleanup Action Plan December 2009 - January 2010. You can find the Cleanup Action Plan and other background documents by using the "View Electronic Documents" link in the bar on the right.

Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect

Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.

Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 600593
County Recording Date: 7/5/2016

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Prohibit Soil Disturbance
  • Restrict Land Use

Restricted Media

  • Soil
Legal 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Irondale Environmental Covenant 7/5/2016 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Public Information 9
State Environmental Policy Act 3
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Revised Determination of Nonsignificance 5/25/2011 SEPA Documents
Addendum to Environmental Checklist 5/24/2011 SEPA Documents
Environmental Checklist 12/7/2009 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 21
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Appendix E, Part 2 of 2, Cleanup Action and Site Restoration Completion Report 11/4/2015 Remedial Action Report
Appendix E, Part 1 of 2; Cleanup Action and Site Restoration Completion Report 11/4/2015 Remedial Action Report
Cleanup Action and Site Restoration Completion Report 11/4/2015 Remedial Action Report
October 2013 Groundwater Monitoring, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant Site 12/5/2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report
July 2013 Groundwater Monitoring, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant Site 12/5/2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report
April 2013 Groundwater Monitoring, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant Site 12/5/2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report
January 2013 Groundwater Monitoring, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant Site 12/5/2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report
Year-One Post-Construction Monitoring Report, Shoreline Habitat Restoration, Irondale Iron and Steel Plant 11/20/2014 Site Specific Technical Document - other
As-Built Report, Shoreline Habitat Restoration, Irondale Iron and Steel Plant 11/17/2014 Site Specific Technical Document - other
February 2014 Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring and Tidal Cycle Study, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant 11/17/2014 Groundwater Monitoring Report
Figure 1, Planting Plan 12/17/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Re-vegetation and Fill Plan Around Historic Kilns, Irondale Remediation Project 12/17/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Irondale Iron and Steel Plant - Final Engineering Design Report 5/1/2012 Engineering Design Report
Cultural Resources Assessment for the Irondale Iron and Steel Plant (45JE358) Historic District (DT128) Remediation and Restoration Project 8/26/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Irondale Biological Evaluation and Essential Fish Habitat Evaluation 6/28/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Irondale Iron and Steel Revised Draft Cleanup Action Plan 8/31/2009 Cleanup Action Plan
Irondale Iron and Steel Revised Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Report 8/13/2009 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Former Irondale Iron & Steel Plant 7/20/2007 Site Hazard Assessment Report
Irondale Iron and Steel Draft Final RI/FS Work Plan 6/21/2007 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
Irondale Iron and Steel Beach Park Shellfish Sample Plan 6/6/2007 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Summary of PLP Search and Site History, Former Irondale Iron and Steel Plant 2/13/2007 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

  • Southwest Regional Office
    300 Desmond Dr SE
    Lacey, 98503-1274
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
  • Jefferson County Library
    620 Cedar Avenue
    Port Hadlock, 98339
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
  • Jefferson County Public Works
    623 Sheridan Street
    Port Townsend, 98638
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 7

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals - Other RA RB B
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons RB RB RB
Metals - Arsenic RA B B
Metals - Lead RA B B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel RB RB RB
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other RB RB RB
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.