Northern State Multi Service Center

Last Updated: December 2023

2023 Fact Sheet | Información en español 

Blog (2023): "Cleaning up: Early cleanup work continues at historic hospital site in Sedro-Woolley"

Ecology held a public comment period from July 17 - August 15, 2023, to review an Amendment to the Agreed Order, a Revised Interim Action Workplan, and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Nonsignificance for the Northern State Multi Service Center cleanup site (Site). The Site is located on the eastern edge of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County. The property was formerly owned and operated by Washington State as the Northern State Hospital and is now owned by the Port of Skagit (Port), the Potentially Liable Person (PLP). An Agreed Order (legal agreement) requires the Port to prevent existing contamination from impacting human health and the environment by investigating and addressing contamination under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

Ecology did not receive any public comments on the following reviewable documents, so they are now final. 

• Amendment to the Agreed Order: A legal agreement that changes the original scope of work for one of the interim actions and updates the applicable laws and requirements.
• Revised Interim Action Work Plan: A document (prepared by the Port) outlining the revised scope of work and schedule for the interim action (early partial cleanup).
• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Nonsignificance: A document of determination (prepared by Ecology) that the cleanup work is not likely to harm the environment.

Next Steps
The Port will continue work on two interim actions (early partial cleanups), the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, and the draft Cleanup Action Plan. 

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The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) 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 below) over a variable timeline.

The Amended Agreed Order (legal agreement) between Ecology and the Port includes an updated scope of work for one of the interim actions. The Port is required to develop the following documents according to this amended agreed order.

• Revised Interim Action Work Plan: Describes the amended scope of work and schedule for the interim action for AOC 1, the former laundry building.
• Draft and Final Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Report: Describes the contamination found on the Site; analyzes cleanup options of contamination in soil, groundwater, and soil vapor; presents the results of the study; and proposes alternatives for cleanup actions.
• Draft Cleanup Action Plan (CAP): Uses the RI/FS to identify a preferred cleanup action and develop a schedule to remediate the contamination.

Two interim actions (early partial cleanups) are being implemented at the Site.

AOC 1
A Revised Interim Action Work Plan (prepared by the Port) outlines the revised scope of work and schedule for the interim action (early partial cleanup). It aims to mitigate inhalation exposure risk of potentially contaminated indoor air at AOC 1, which is currently leased to the Cascade Job Corps. Contaminated indoor air can result from vapor intrusion, the movement of underground chemical vapors (from contaminated soil or groundwater) into buildings.

PCE and TCE contaminants are present in soil vapor near AOC 1; however, indoor air samples have not detected these contaminants inside the building. The risk for vapor intrusion and inhalation exposure may increase over time as the slab degrades. Therefore, the interim action at AOC 1 will address this potential future risk.

The Revised Interim Action Work Plan for AOC 1 includes the following items that will be undertaken by the Port:

• Install a sub-slab depressurization system to prevent vapor intrusion.
• Conduct compliance monitoring to evaluate the functionality of the system and establish baseline conditions.
• Set up quarterly performance monitoring of the system.
• Reassess the system during the Feasibility Study.

Interim actions at AOC 1 are planned for the winter of 2023-2024.

AOC 4
The status of the original Interim Action Work Plan for AOC 4 is as follows:

• Removal and disposal of arsenic-impacted soil near the former ward building and athletic fields is complete.
• Surface restoration work is underway with completion expected by the end of 2023.

• 2023: Surface restoration work completion by the end of 2023 for AOC 4.
• 2024: Interim actions at AOC 1 are planned to take place in the winter of 2023-2024.
• Beyond: The Port will continue work on the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and draft Cleanup Action Plan. These cleanup documents will be available for public review and comment.

The approximately 225-acre property is located on the eastern edge of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County. It was formerly known as Northern State Hospital, constructed in 1912, and was owned and operated by Washington State. The hospital treated psychiatric patients until it closed in 1973.

Since 2018, the Port of Skagit, City of Sedro-Woolley, and Skagit County have been working together to revitalize the property as the Sedro-Woolley Innovation for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Center, a mixed-use campus for innovation and technology. Many of the property’s buildings are currently leased to tenants.

The Northern State Hospital is on the National Register of Historic Places. A timeline of the property follows.

1912-1973: 
Northern State Hospital treats psychiatric patients.

2014: 
Interlocal agreement drafted.

2015:

• Interlocal agreement amended.
• Property is annexed into Sedro-Woolley’s city limits.
• Subarea Plan showing the property development is completed.
• Environmental Impact Statement completed.

2018:  
Washington State transfers property ownership to the Port of Skagit.

Contamination is from the materials used at the former state hospital. Between 2014 and 2021, testing found contamination in the following media.

• Soil: metals, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), tetrachloroethene (PCE), and petroleum products.
• Groundwater: metals, PCE, trichloroethene (TCE), and petroleum products.
• Soil Vapor: PCE and TCE

Testing identified contamination within seven areas of concern (AOCs) at the Site.

• AOC 1: Former Laundry Building
• AOC 2: Power House Building
• AOC 3: Trevennen Building, Coleman Building and Denny Building
• AOC 4: Former Ward Building Area and Athletic Fields
• AOC 5: Metals in Soil
• AOC 6: Maintenance Building
• AOC 7: Lead and Arsenic in Groundwater

Contaminant levels at the Site are present at potentially harmful levels and must be addressed under MTCA.

A portion of this site is being managed by the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA). For more information, please see PLIA’s Technical Assistance Program.

Note: Records for this site could be held at both Ecology and PLIA.

To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6831, email ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or visit ecology.wa.gov/Accessibility. For Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.

If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.