Graphicolor Inc

The Bristol Meyer Squibb/ GraphiColor property located at 3018 Western Avenue in Seattle, in the Belltown District, was purchased by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) (d/b/a/ Oncogen) on July 13, 1990 from GraphiColor Corporation. The property was first developed in 1929 as a food warehouse and processing factory. By 1955, the site was occupied by “Mello-Cup” Coffee Company. According to the 1965 listings, the building was next occupied by Berg and Associates, manufacturers of display equipment. GraphiColor Corporation that was involved in printing a variety of paper products occupied the site from 1978 to 1990. The building was used by BMS as a vivarium (live animal facility) prior to acquisition of the property by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. in 1998. The property is currently being leased for office and medical research use.

Two inactive underground storage tanks (USTs) are known to have been removed from the site in 1990 and 1994. A gasoline UST was located beneath the loading dock area and was removed in 1990. A heating oil UST located beneath the floor of the northwest portion of the building was removed in 1994 during building renovation. During 1994 approximately 15 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soil was excavated from the property. During later construction in 1996, an additional 95 cubic feet of contaminated soil was removed.

The MTCA Method A Standard for unrestricted use was used to set cleanup levels at the property for both soil and groundwater.

Contamination discovered at the property included gasoline, diesel, and oil range petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH-g, TPH-d, TPH-o) and volatile aromatic compounds (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes).

Based on the data representative of final site conditions after remedial and construction activities, it appears that soil on the subject property containing TPH-G related to the former USTs in the loading dock area has been removed. Contaminated soils remain under the sidewalk and street. The groundwater data collected at the Property also indicates that the groundwater directly underneath the affected soil was not impacted.

Based on the site use, surface cover, and cleanup levels, Ecology determined that the Site was eligible for a ‘No Further Action’ determination if a Restrictive Covenant was recorded for the property.  A Restrictive Covenant was recorded for the Site in 1999.