Facility Site ID: 2097
Cleanup Site ID: 820

  • Site Status

  • Cleanup Started

Current Status

Boeing Renton facility seen from the walking and biking path along the Cedar River.
Boeing Renton facility seen from the walking and biking path along the Cedar River.
Last updated: May 2025

Boeing Renton continues to conduct sitewide bioremediation injections and monitoring, as outlined in the Cleanup Action Plan, Engineering Design Report, and the Compliance Monitoring Plan. Recently, they encountered an oily sheen during construction and are conducting an investigation to determine the nature and extent of any contamination in that area. We are currently conducting a Periodic Review for this site. Once finalized, this review will be available for public comment.


Site Background

Ecology's Corrective Action Coordinator Sean Smith checking out Boeing Renton's vapor intrusion mitigation equipment.
Ecology's Corrective Action Coordinator Sean Smith checking out Boeing Renton's vapor intrusion mitigation equipment.
The Boeing plant in Renton is located along the south shore of Lake Washington and across the Cedar River from the Renton Municipal Airport. From 1941-1962, the U.S. Air Force manufactured planes at this site. Boeing acquired this property in 1962 and has manufactured planes since then.
 
This facility mainly produces 737 model commercial aircraft. Manufacturing operations include parts preparation, mechanical assembly, coating, testing, and other support operations associated with the final assembly of airplanes.  

Site Contamination

Cleanup at the site.
Cleanup at the site.

Manufacturing aircraft requires many kinds of hazardous materials. The used or discarded materials are managed under an interim status hazardous waste permit. In May 1990, EPA conducted a site assessment and found that hazardous substances were released to soils and groundwater from several different locations at the facility. The releases were mainly from tank leaks and spills.

In August 2001, The Boeing Company completed the site remedial investigation. This investigation showed that soils and groundwater in localized areas beneath the facility were contaminated with various solvents and petroleum products from leaks and spills over the years.

These hazardous substances include:

Solvents                Fuels                Oils                   Heavy metals

Cleanup

Ecology uses the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) for cleanup of hazardous waste sites. There are many steps to the cleanup process. The most important steps that the public can get involved in are the Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study, and Cleanup Action Plan. Boeing is now carrying out the Cleanup Action Plan (CAP).

The CAP describes the selected cleanup methods. It also states cleanup standards and other requirements. The CAP is based on information and technical analyses from the RI/FS and public comments and community concerns.

The Cleanup Action Plan was prepared and approved, and an Agreed Order (No. 8191) to carry out this Cleanup Action Plan became effective in January 2013. Boeing is performing cleanup at 13 different locations. Four of them are located at a property leased at Renton Municipal Airport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contaminated soil vapor are extracted and treated at:

  • The middle of Boeing-owned property.
  • The leased property at Renton Municipal Airport.
  • Groundwater is treated by injecting oxygen- or hydrogen-releasing material into the groundwater. This material enhances microorganism activity which degrades and removes contaminants through biological reaction.

    Interim Cleanup Actions

    Over the past 18 years, several interim cleanup actions were done to prevent contaminants from reaching Lake Washington and the Cedar River, and to protect industrial workers from potential exposure to contaminated soils. Contaminated groundwater was pumped and treated, and contaminated soils were excavated. Any residues left in soil and groundwater underneath are being treated by enhanced bioremediation and soil vapor extraction.

    No documents found.
    There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.

    Contaminants 11

    Contaminant Type
    Soil
    Groundwater
    Surface Water
    Air
    Sediment
    Bedrock
    Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics C C S
    Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants C C S
    Metals - Metals - Other C C S
    Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) C C S C
    Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified C C S
    Non-Halogenated Organics - Phenolic Compounds C C S
    Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents C C S
    Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons S S S C
    Reactive Wastes - Corrosive Wastes S S S
    Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Inorganic C C S
    Other Contaminant - Asbestos S S S
    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.