Georgia-Pacific West Bellingham

Información en español

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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. 

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.

En español

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.