Boathouse Inc Renton Skyway

Last updated: December 8, 2022

Summer 2022 community mailer

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Ecology is overseeing the cleanup of the Boathouse Inc Renton Skyway site located in the Skyway neighborhood. The cleanup is being done by GardnerGlobal, Inc. Ecology is providing funding for this cleanup through their new Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant Program. This program ensures sites are “cleaned up properly while promoting community engagement and ensuring affordable housing in the process.”

Ecology held a public comment period for this site from July 18 - August 16, 2022 and has finalized responses to all public comments. View the summary document below for all public comments, Ecology responses, and a summary of the comment period.

December 2022 Responsiveness Summary

We have finalized the following documents:  Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree (PPCD) and Exhibits: legal agreement that directs the purchaser to implement cleanup at the site, and provides the purchaser a settlement of liability. Public Participation Plan: document that explains how people can participate in the cleanup process.

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The Boathouse Inc. Renton Skyway site (Site) is a former retail store and dry cleaning facility (Ken's Skyway Cleaners) located in Seattle, King County, Washington. A dry cleaning facility (Ken’s Skyway Cleaners) was in operation at the Site from 1982-2002. Operations at this dry cleaning facility resulted in the release of hazardous chemicals to soil and groundwater.  The 0.48-acre property is located approximately 5,700 feet from the Duwamish River, and zoned for community business (CBSO) use.

Municipal groundwater wells for the Skyway Water District (approximately 9,890 users) and the City of Renton (approx. 62,100 users) are located within 2 miles of the Site. Solvent-impacted groundwater has been confirmed at the Site, but has not been confirmed to affect municipal groundwater supplies.

1999: June 1999, the Site was reported to Washington State Department of Ecology due to a release. In July 1999, an investigation was completed.

2002: The Site joined the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) in 2002 and placed on the list with ID number NW0926, and was terminated from the program in 2007 due to inactivity. 

2013: In August 23, 2013, a groundwater monitoring report showed that PCE (a chemical primary used for dry-cleaning fabrics and degreasing metals) and TCE were found in groundwater above state cleanup levels.

2015: Ecology conducted a Site Hazardous Assessment and added the Site to the Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of "3" moderate risk.

2019: In January 17, 2019, a Limited Phase II screening was conducted.  PCE, TCE and Vinyl Chloride (VC) were found above state cleanup level in groundwater. This report also documents the potential of the groundwater plume migrating to the south and under the adjacent southern property. 

2020: Ecology began negations with the liable persons to clean up the Site.

2022: We held a public comment period and public meeting on a Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree and Public Participation Plan. Ecology finalized these documents and the Remedial Investigation has begun.  

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA; Chapter 70.105D RCW) 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 to the left) over a variable timeline.