Glacier Northwest Inc

The draft Remedial Investigation Report (see below) has been submitted to Ecology and is being reviewed.

In 2009, Ecology entered into an Agreed Order with Glacier Northwest, Inc. and Reichhold, Inc. (the Potentially Liable Persons or PLPs) to investigate contamination at the site.  

The Agreed Order describes the work that the PLP agrees to perform on the site. Under this legal agreement, [PLP] is required to complete the following:

• Remedial Investigation (RI). The purpose of the RI is to define the nature and extent of contamination at the site and to determine if it is contributing to the sediment contamination in the Lower Duwamish Waterway. During the RI, the PLPs will collect data necessary to adequately characterize the contamination in soil, groundwater, stormwater, and sediments.
• Feasibility Study (FS). The FS will use the results of the RI to evaluate and choose measures to cleanup contamination and prevent recontamination of the sediment.

 What happens next?

Ecology is working with the PLPs to complete the RI and move forward with the FS. The next opportunity for public comment will be when the Draft Final RI and FS Reports are ready for review.


 Why this cleanup matters

This site is part of Ecology’s Lower Duwamish Waterway source control efforts, because it is located near the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) Superfund Site. The 5-mile stretch of the Duwamish River that flows north into Elliot Bay was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001.

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.

Ecology is leading efforts to control sources of contamination from the surrounding land area. The long-term goal is to minimize recontamination of the river sediment and restore water quality in the river. 

The Glacier Northwest site is one of several sites that will be cleaned up as part of Ecology’s Source Control Strategy – controlling sources of pollution to the river. Contaminants in the soil and groundwater around the river pose a risk to human health and the environment. They can also find their way into the river through storm runoff and other pathways. For more information, visit our Source Control page.

Site location

The Glacier Northwest, Inc. site is located in an industrial area on the west bank of the Lower Duwamish Waterway. The site is bordered on the north by the Duwamish Shipyard cleanup site and to the south by Terminal 115. It is bordered on the east by the Lower Duwamish Waterway, and on the west by West Marginal Way SW.

The Glacier Northwest, Inc. site includes an upland area as well as some sediments, or mud, in the Lower Duwamish Waterway that are contaminated. Final site boundaries will be defined by the extent of contamination determined during the remedial investigation. 

The Lower Duwamish Waterway drainage basin is divided into source control areas. This site is located within the Glacier Bay (river mile 1.3-1.6) source control area along the west bank of the river.


Site history

Glacier Northwest, Inc. currently owns the property that was formerly operated by Reichhold, Inc., a chemical product manufacturer and distributor.

From 1940 to 1943, activated charcoal was manufactured for the U.S. Army at the site. The Army then purchased the land in 1943.

From 1947 to 1961, Reichhold, Inc. leased the land from the Army, manufactured resin glues for plywood; and operated a pilot plant for pentachlorophenol and sodium pentachlorophenate production until approximately 1958.

In 1964, the Port of Seattle purchased the property. Kaiser Cement Corp. leased the property from the Port for storage and distribution of cement. Kaiser bought the property in 1969.

In 1987, Lone Star Industries, Inc. bought the property and eventually changed their name to Glacier Northwest, Inc. The facility was continually used for cement storage and distribution. Between 2000 and 2002 Glacier mixed and distributed batches of concrete. Glacier currently operates a cement storage and distribution facility on the property.


Contamination

Contamination at the site is the result of historical uses and practices including manufacture of pentachlorophenol, glues and resins.

In the soil, contaminants of concern are:

•Pentachlorophenol
•Dioxins/Furans
•TPH/cPAHs

Metals in the groundwater, contaminants of concern are:

•Pentachlorophenol
•MetalsTPH/cPAHs

In the sediments, contaminants of concern are:
•Dioxins/Furans
•PCBsMetals
•Pentachlorophenol


Previous cleanup work

In 2000, Glacier completed an independent cleanup action to reduce levels of arsenic and pentachlorophenol in groundwater.  While the treatment was initially successful, levels of both contaminants have again risen above state cleanup levels.

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) over a variable timeline.