Boeing Developmental Center
What's New?
Last updated: Sept. 2026
To prevent erosion from the BDC to the LDW, Boeing proposes installing an 818-foot long sheet pile wall along the property boundary. Boeing took soil samples along the planned wall. Some samples showed soil contamination requiring cleanup. Installing this wall is the Interim Action that is currently out for public comment.
Thorough sampling began in March 2021 and continues in 2026. The sampling results will be in a 'remedial investigation' report. Once that report meets Ecology requirements, it will go out to public comment.
Site Background
Boeing Developmental Center included multiple laboratories and test facilities supporting airplane and missile research and development. Boeing used chemicals and generated wastes from manufacturing processes such as electroplating, chemical milling, conversion coating, cleaning parts and photographic processing. During those operations, chemicals contaminated soil and groundwater at the site.
Since 1999, Boeing has been cleaning up three areas of the property under Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. Boeing removed more than 1,400 tons of soil and treated groundwater. Since 2002, they added non-toxic substances to the groundwater to help natural bacteria breakdown the contamination. Boeing will continue their cleanup under the Agreed Order until we approve a cleanup plan for the entire site and it is implemented.
See the documents in the Site Details section at left to learn more about the site.
Why This Cleanup Matters
This site is part of Ecology’s Lower Duwamish Waterway source control efforts because the site has the potential to contribute pollution to the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) Superfund Site. The sediments (mud) in the river contain a wide range of contaminants due to decades of industrial activity and runoff from urban areas. EPA is leading efforts to clean up the river sediments. We are leading efforts to control sources of contamination from the surrounding land. The long-term goal is to avoid recontamination of the river bottom and restore water quality in the river.
Contamination
The following chemicals are now or were in the past found in soil and groundwater:
- Petroleum products (diesel, gasoline, heavy oil).
- Volatile organic compounds (tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, xylene).
- Semi-volatile organic compounds (naphthalene).
- Metals (arsenic, copper, cadmium).
- Polychlorinated biphenyls.
Cleanup
Language Services
Español (Spanish): El Departamento de Ecología está anunciando el período de comentarios públicos relacionado a la limpieza ambiental del sitio Boeing Developmental Center. Lea el documento en español. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la limpieza o sobre cómo hacer comentarios, contacte a Janelle Anderson llamando al 425-301-6454 o escribiendo a janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov. Por favor solicite un intérprete al hacer su llamada y espere a que le conecten con uno. El Departamento de Ecología ofrece servicios de traducción interpretación libre de costo.
Documents 64
Legal 8
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Boeing Developmental Center Agreed Order | 7/23/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit F SEPA DNS for Interim Action | 4/25/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit A Facility Location | 4/17/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit B Facility Boundary | 4/17/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit C Scope of Work and Schedule | 4/17/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit D Interim Action Work Plan | 4/17/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Boeing Developmental Center AO Exhibit E SEPA Checklist for Interim Action | 4/17/2019 | Agreed Order |
| Prelim Determination of Liability | 3/20/2018 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Outreach Information 6
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Boeing Developmental Center Public Notice Sept. 2026 | 9/2/2026 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
| Boeing Developmental Center Public Participation Plan Sept. 2026 | 9/2/2026 | Public Participation Plan |
| Boeing Developmental Center Comment Period Public Notice Mailer (en espanol) | 5/23/2019 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
| Boeing Developmental Center Comment Period Public Notice Mailer Vietnamese | 5/23/2019 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
| Boeing DC Public Participation Plan | 5/2/2019 | Public Participation Plan |
| Public Notice Mailer, BDC Comment Period | 4/23/2019 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Technical Reports 49
Tribal Engagement 1
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| BDC NWRO Tribal Engagement Plan Sept. 2026 | 9/10/2026 | Tribal Engagement Plan |
Places to see print documents
-
Northwest Regional Office15700 Dayton Ave NShoreline, 98133This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
-
Tukwila Library14380 Tukwila International BlvdTukwila, 98168This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 7
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics | C | C | S | S | ||
| Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | S | C | S | S | ||
| Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) | B | |||||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified | S | S | ||||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents | C | C | S | S | ||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons | S | C | ||||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline | C | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated
Public Comment Period
Interim Action Work Plan (IAWP): A plan for a partial cleanup that will be done before the final cleanup.
Public Participation Plan: A plan encouraging community involvement in cleanup decisions.
Submit comments online: ecology.wa.gov/BDC-Comment
By mail: Michelle Myers, Site Manager, Department of Ecology, Northwest Region Office, P.O. Box 330316, Shoreline, WA 98133
Public meeting: At this time, there are no public meetings scheduled for this comment period. To request a public meeting, please call 425-301-6454 or email janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov.
What happens next?
The public comment period is open from Sept. 21 - Oct. 23, 2026. After the comment period ends, we will review and consider all comments we receive. The documents may change based on your comments. After we consider all the comments, the documents will become final. When there are new documents about the site, we’ll notify you about additional public comment periods.
Language Services: We offer translation and interpretation services at no cost. To request them, email janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-301-6454. If you call, please ask for an interpreter.
Español (Spanish): El Departamento de Ecología está anunciando el período de comentarios públicos relacionado a la limpieza ambiental del sitio Boeing Developmental Center. Lea el documento en español. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la limpieza o sobre cómo hacer comentarios, contacte a Janelle Anderson llamando al 425-301-6454 o escribiendo a janelle.anderson@ecy.wa.gov. Por favor solicite un intérprete al hacer su llamada y espere a que le conecten con uno. El Departamento de Ecología ofrece servicios de traducción e interpretación libre de costo.