CURRENT STATUS

Ecology has approved the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility study - important steps in Ecology's cleanup process.

Ecology held a public comment period for the Remedial Investigation (RI) and Feasibility Study (FS) from October 16, 2017 - November 14, 2017.  The RI and FS are important steps in Ecology's cleanup process. Ecology did not receive any comments from the public and approved the RI/FS study for Stericycle Kent Facility March 20, 2018.

Remedial Investigation (RI).  The purpose of the RI is to define the nature and extent of contamination at the site.

Feasibility Study (FS).  The FS used the results from the RI to evaluate and propose measure to cleanup contamination.  Of the alternatives, Ecology selected Alternative 1. It includes:

• Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA).  The MNA requires that the soil and groundwater contamination be monitored under the natural conditions to ensure that it is breaking down at an appropriate rate.
• Institutional Controls.  The site is securely fenced and public access is controlled.  Institution controls are outlined in section 8.1.1 of the Final Feasibility Study.

To review site reports, click on the "view Electronic Documents" link to the right.

Dangerous Waste Permits.  Stericycle is closing several of its Treatment,Storage and Disposal (TSD) dangerous waste units. They are completing this work under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) through their TSD Part B Permit. Thedepartment of Ecology oversees permits required by RCRA for facilities that deal with hazardous wastes.

In June, 2017 Stericycle started moving its hazardous waste activities from its facility in Kent to their facility in Tacoma. The Tacoma facility is located in a highly industrial area in the Tacoma tide flats. There will be no change in the number of trucks going to and from the Tacoma facility. Other changes to the permit include: Construction upgrades. Relocation of various operations to the Stericycle Tacoma facility. Removing several dangerous waste units. Changing the facility name from “PSC-Kent” to “Stericycle-Kent.” Closure of several holding tanks that held non-regulated oily wastewater.

What happens next?

Ecology and Stericycle will institute a contingency plan if the cleanup options to attain the cleanup levels with a reasonable restoring time. If there are spills or releases, Stericycle must report them to Ecology

Stericycle will submit a DRAFT Cleanup Action plan for Ecology to review. It will be available for public comment.

CLEANUP PROCESS

Stericycle must follow regulations set by Washington’s Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), which sets a standard process for cleaning up contaminated sites.

CONTAMINATION

A number of spills and leaks of hazardous substances have occurred at the site since the facility began operations. Most of the spills and leaks are from the tank farm area. While most of these releases remained within secondary containment, several resulted in the release of contamination to soil and groundwater at the site.

In the soil, contaminants of concern are:

In the groundwater, contaminants of concern are:

SITE BACKGROUND

In late 1980, the site was developed as a commercial treatment and storage facility for oily wastewater. The facility has also been used for commercial storage and transfer of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated materials since 1985. Other hazardous waste management activities at the facility included the processing and treatment of:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Acronyms used by the Toxics Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Toxics Cleanup publications