Georgia-Pacific West Bellingham
Facility Site ID:
14
Cleanup Site ID:
2279
Current Status
Last Updated: August 2022
Response to Comments
Response to Comments Summary (July 2022)
Blog
"Cleaning up for affordable housing on Bellingham Bay"
Outreach Materials (2022)
Fact Sheet | Postcard
Virtual Site Tour
www.re-sources.org/Lignin
Visit webpage for an informational virtual tour video.
This tour is funded through a Public Participation Grant from Ecology.
By the end of 2022, the Port of Bellingham plans to complete the engineering design and the cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit. Then Mercy plans to purchase a portion of the property from the Port and begin redevelopment, which will continue into 2023.
Ecology has reviewed and considered the public comments received on the documents. Based on Ecology’s evaluation of the comments, no changes were necessary in the documents, and they are being finalized:
Response to Comments
Response to Comments Summary (July 2022)
Blog
"Cleaning up for affordable housing on Bellingham Bay"
Outreach Materials (2022)
Fact Sheet | Postcard
Virtual Site Tour
www.re-sources.org/Lignin
Visit webpage for an informational virtual tour video.
This tour is funded through a Public Participation Grant from Ecology.
Lignin Operable Unit continues towards cleanup
Ecology held a 30-day public comment period (June 20 – July 19, 2022) and a public meeting (June 29, 2022 presentation PDF) on the cleanup action plan and associated legal documents for the Lignin Operable Unit at the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site (GP West). The Lignin Operable Unit is located on the Bellingham waterfront within the Chlor-Alkali Area of the GP West site - see map.
Ecology and the Port of Bellingham (Port) have prioritized cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit to enable purchase by Mercy Housing Northwest (Mercy) for redevelopment as affordable housing.By the end of 2022, the Port of Bellingham plans to complete the engineering design and the cleanup of the Lignin Operable Unit. Then Mercy plans to purchase a portion of the property from the Port and begin redevelopment, which will continue into 2023.
Ecology has reviewed and considered the public comments received on the documents. Based on Ecology’s evaluation of the comments, no changes were necessary in the documents, and they are being finalized:
- Cleanup Action Plan: Ecology’s plan that describes the cleanup work to address contamination within the Lignin Operable Unit.
- Consent Decree Amendment: Amendment to a previous legal agreement between Ecology and the Port that requires the Port to complete engineering design documents and clean up the Lignin Operable Unit.
- Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree: Legal agreement between Ecology and Mercy that settles Mercy’s cleanup liability for the Lignin Operable Unit and details property access requirements and affordable housing development information.
Estimated Site Timeline
- June 20 – July 19, 2022: Public comment period for Lignin Operable Unit Cleanup Action Plan and associated legal documents.
- June 29, 2022: In-person walking tour (noon) hosted by RE Sources through an Ecology Public Participation Grant. Online and in-person public meeting (6:30 p.m.) hosted by Ecology. See details above.
- Late Summer 2022: Ecology finalizes the Lignin Operable Unit Cleanup Action Plan and associated legal documents after addressing public comments received. Port completes engineering design and begins cleanup.
- By End of 2022: Port completes cleanup. Mercy purchases a portion of the property from the Port and begins redevelopment.
General Cleanup Process
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 MTCA and oversees cleanups. The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.
Public Participation
Current Georgia Pacific West cleanup site Public Participation Plan
This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the Site cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public.
This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the Site cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public.
Site Description
Lignin Operable Unit Location and Cleanup Area Management
The approximately 4 acre Lignin Operable Unit is located at the corner of W. Laurel Street and Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.
To expedite the cleanup of this unit and enable Mercy to purchase and redevelop a portion of the property after cleanup, the Consent Decree amendment creates the Lignin Operable Unit within the Chlor-Alkali Area of the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site and sets the cleanup requirements for that Operable Unit. (See map above.)
Future cleanup of the remainder of the Chlor-Alkali Area outside of the Lignin Operable Unit will take place under a second amendment to the Consent Decree.
Cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill Area of the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site was completed in 2016.
Site History
The approximately 74-acre Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site is located at 300 West Laurel Street, on the south side of Whatcom Waterway, in Bellingham. A pulp and tissue mill operated at the site from 1926 through 2007. The Port of Bellingham acquired property within the site from Georgia-Pacific Corporation in January 2005, and plans to use the property for commercial, retail, and residential purposes.
Environmental investigations of the site showed contamination in two separate and distinct areas. As a result, in 2013, the port and Ecology agreed to divide the site into two separate cleanup areas to expedite cleanup and support redevelopment. The two areas are known as the Pulp and Tissue Mill area and the Chlor-Alkali area.
In 2011 and 2013, interim cleanup actions were conducted to remove contaminated soils and building materials from the site. The cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill area was completed in 2016.
Contamination
Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (38 acres) contamination addressed (cleanup completed in 2016):
• metals
• low pH
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• volatile organic compounds
• dioxins/furans
Chlor-Alkali Area (36 acres) contaminates include:
• mercury
• high pH (caustic)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• petroleum hydrocarbons
Contaminant levels within the Chlor-Alkali Area are present at potentially harmful levels and must be addressed under Washington's toxics cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The Georgia-Pacific West site is one of 12 sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot. The Pilot is a bay-wide multi-agency effort to clean up contaminated sediment, control sources of sediment contamination, and restore habitat, with consideration for land and water uses. In 2000, participants in this initiative developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.
The approximately 4 acre Lignin Operable Unit is located at the corner of W. Laurel Street and Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.
To expedite the cleanup of this unit and enable Mercy to purchase and redevelop a portion of the property after cleanup, the Consent Decree amendment creates the Lignin Operable Unit within the Chlor-Alkali Area of the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site and sets the cleanup requirements for that Operable Unit. (See map above.)
Future cleanup of the remainder of the Chlor-Alkali Area outside of the Lignin Operable Unit will take place under a second amendment to the Consent Decree.
Cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill Area of the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site was completed in 2016.
Site History
The approximately 74-acre Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site is located at 300 West Laurel Street, on the south side of Whatcom Waterway, in Bellingham. A pulp and tissue mill operated at the site from 1926 through 2007. The Port of Bellingham acquired property within the site from Georgia-Pacific Corporation in January 2005, and plans to use the property for commercial, retail, and residential purposes.
Environmental investigations of the site showed contamination in two separate and distinct areas. As a result, in 2013, the port and Ecology agreed to divide the site into two separate cleanup areas to expedite cleanup and support redevelopment. The two areas are known as the Pulp and Tissue Mill area and the Chlor-Alkali area.
In 2011 and 2013, interim cleanup actions were conducted to remove contaminated soils and building materials from the site. The cleanup of the Pulp and Tissue Mill area was completed in 2016.
Contamination
Pulp and Tissue Mill Area (38 acres) contamination addressed (cleanup completed in 2016):
• metals
• low pH
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• volatile organic compounds
• dioxins/furans
Chlor-Alkali Area (36 acres) contaminates include:
• mercury
• high pH (caustic)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• petroleum hydrocarbons
Contaminant levels within the Chlor-Alkali Area are present at potentially harmful levels and must be addressed under Washington's toxics cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot
The Georgia-Pacific West site is one of 12 sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot. The Pilot is a bay-wide multi-agency effort to clean up contaminated sediment, control sources of sediment contamination, and restore habitat, with consideration for land and water uses. In 2000, participants in this initiative developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.
Translated Content
En español
El Departamento de Ecología le invita a revisor los documentos para el sitio que está contaminado Georgia-Pacific West en Bellingham.
Si le gustaría recibir los documentos en español, por favor llame a 425-240-4353 y espere a que un intérprete se una a la llamada o envíe un correo electrónico a preguntas@ecy.wa.gov. Traducciones de avisos públicos para los sitios de limpieza de la Bahía de Bellingham se preparan bajo solicitud.
El Departamento de Ecología le invita a revisor los documentos para el sitio que está contaminado Georgia-Pacific West en Bellingham.
Si le gustaría recibir los documentos en español, por favor llame a 425-240-4353 y espere a que un intérprete se una a la llamada o envíe un correo electrónico a preguntas@ecy.wa.gov. Traducciones de avisos públicos para los sitios de limpieza de la Bahía de Bellingham se preparan bajo solicitud.
Requesting Accommodation
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.
If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.
Documents 87
Legal 14
Map 2
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Georgia Pacfic West Chlor-Alkali Area Map | 6/6/2018 | Map |
| Georgia-Pacific West Map: Potential Areas for early remedial actions | 12/1/2010 | Map |
Public Information 25
State Environmental Policy Act 3
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Georgia-Pacific West - Chlor-Alkali Area - SEPA Determination of Non-significance - July 2021 | 7/6/2021 | SEPA Documents |
| Georgia Pacific West - SEPA Determination of Non-Significance - November 2014 | 11/12/2014 | SEPA Documents |
| Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy - SEPA - Environmental Impact Statement | 10/1/2000 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 43
There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.
Places to see print documents
-
Northwest Regional Office15700 Dayton Ave NShoreline, 98133Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
-
Ecology Bellingham Field Office913 Squalicum Way, Unit 101Bellingham, 98225This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 2
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | C | C | R | |||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.