MJB South Hydro Fill

A Puget Sound Initiative site - Reaching the goal of a healthy, sustainable Puget Sound.

MJB South Hydro Fill Site is a waterfront Site in Anacortes that originally operated as a shingle mill on the northern portion of the Site while the southern portion of the Site was largely formed in 1974 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created land from sediments dredged from the navigation channel in Fidalgo Bay.

Ecology identified the potential presence of COPCs, including petroleum products, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins/furans from the 1991 initial investigation. An independent investigation and cleanup occurred in 2010 to support the installation of a boat ramp between the north and south portions of the Site. An additional investigation occurred in 2011 to address data gaps in the southern portion of the Site.

Targeted excavation and off-site disposal occurred during the 2013 cleanup action at soil borings that had analytical exceedances above Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). Approximately 18 cubic yards of soil was excavated and disposed of during this cleanup.

Following the 2013 cleanup action, a No Further Action opinion letter was issued by Ecology in September 2014 with an environmental covenant consisting of an Ecology approved soil management plan to be implemented.

Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.

Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.