Alexander Avenue Petroleum Tank Facilities

In October 2013, Ecology entered an agreed order with the Port of Tacoma (port) and Mariana Properties, Inc. (Mariana). This legal agreement requires the port and Mariana to investigate contamination at the site, compare cleanup options, and suggest a cleanup plan to Ecology.

The draft remedial investigation and feasibility study are ready for public review. The draft Cleanup Action Plan is still in progress. Ecology is negotiating another legal agreement, a consent decree, which will require the port and Mariana to clean up the site according to Ecology's cleanup action plan. 

The remedial investigation, feasibility study, draft cleanup action plan, and consent decree will be available for public comment before Ecology finalizes the documents.

The Alexander Avenue Petroleum Tank Facilities site is located at 709, 901, and a part of 1001 Alexander Avenue East in Tacoma. The cleanup site investigation will define the boundaries at the site more precisely.

The site had buildings for petroleum processing and storage since the 1930s. The Port of Tacoma bought the property in 1966, and Mariana Properties purchased some of the property in 2001.

In 1983, the port removed storage tanks from 901 Alexander Avenue. The port later removed the crude oil plant from 709 Alexander Avenue. Buildings in a warehouse complex owned by the port still remain at 901 Alexander Avenue. 709 Alexander Avenue is vacant.

Initial studies showed that soil or groundwater at the site are contaminated with petroleum-related contaminants including total petroleum hydrocarbons, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene. Other contaminants found in soil or groundwater include lead, arsenic, copper, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and vinyl chloride.

Ecology wants to keep you involved! You will have the chance to review and comment on key documents during the investigation and cleanup process.

To be added to the email or mail list, contact sam.meng@ecy.wa.gov.