SITE DESCRIPTION
The Marine Trades Area site is located at Marine Drive and Tumwater Street west of downtown Port Angeles. The Port of Port Angeles (port) owns the property north of Marine Drive, except for the Westport Marine facility. The north part of the property is mostly used for marine-related businesses. The Pettit Oil bulk fuel plant (formerly Chevron) is south of Marine Drive.
Starting in the 1920s, the site was used for bulk fuel plants, log storage, and ship and logging truck repair. Chevron, Atlantic Richfield Company, and other companies operated the bulk fuel plants. Over the years, fuel pipelines were built and abandoned or removed on parts of the site.
In 2005, Ecology entered into an agreed order with the port and Chevron for the Marine Trades Area site. Based on what was known at the time, it included the Marine Trades Area, Pettit Oil, and K Ply properties. Atlantic Richfield Company agreed to fund a share of the work under the agreed order.
SITE INVESTIGATION AND CONTAMINATION
Soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated with pollutants from several sources. Over years, the bulk fuel plants leaked petroleum from their tank and piping systems. Contaminants found above state cleanup levels are:
Investigations have also shown that there are separate sources of contamination on the Marine Trades Area and K Ply properties. As a result, Ecology has
separated K Ply off as its own site. Ecology entered into a new agreed order with the port for the K Ply site in late 2012.
CURRENT STATUS
Ecology held a public comment period on a draft remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) report and agreed order amendment (legal agreement) May 16 - June 17, 2013.
The agreed order amendment between Ecology and the Port of Port Angeles and Chevron:
- Completes the process of separating the K Ply site from the Marine Trades Area site.
- Requires the port and Chevron to develop a draft cleanup action plan and submit it to Ecology.
The RI/FS report describes the nature and extent of contamination, and evaluates possible cleanup actions. The agreed order amendment and RI/FS report are now both final.
Port of Port Angeles Proposed Maintenance Activities
The port is proposing to do maintenance activities at five terminals and at the Port Angeles Boat Haven marina over the next ten years, as needed. The proposed work will occur in the Port Angeles Harbor, but is not directly related to the Port Angeles cleanup activities.
You can read more about the proposed maintenance work on the port’s website.
NEXT STEPS
- The port and Chevron will develop a preliminary draft cleanup action plan (CAP) and submit it to Ecology. A CAP selects cleanup methods and describes how they meet state standards.
- Ecology will review the preliminary draft CAP and use it as a starting point for the final draft CAP. We will put the draft CAP and a legal agreement for cleanup out for comment when they are ready.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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 sign up for the site email or mail list, contact Diana Smith at the email or phone number listed to the right.
