Facility Site ID: 24768 Cleanup Site ID: 2674

What's New?

Terminal 91 Site Map
Terminal 91 Site Map

Last updated 5/9/2023

Currently, Terminal 91 is finalizing their Remedial Investigation.

From April 6 - May 8, 2023 Ecology accepted comments on an Amended Agreed Order, Interim Action Work Plan and Public Participation Plan. 

Agreed Order: Legal agreement to ensure that a Remedial Investigation (RI) to determine the location and type of the contamination meets the requirements of the state cleanup law. 

Interim Action Work Plan: A plan outlining a partial cleanup that will be done before the final cleanup. Parts of the dock at Pier 90 need to be repaired but to do this work, sediments in that area must be cleaned up. 

Public Participation Plan: Creates a process to communicate with and receive feedback from the public about this cleanup.

View fact sheet

What happens next?

The Port will submit the Remedial Investigation (RI) of site sediments to Ecology for review. That RI is expected in June 2023. Ecology will review the report and decide the study is complete and ready for public notice or ask the Port to do more sampling. When Ecology believes the study is complete, it will go out for public review before it becomes final.

For more detailed information, visit our Electronic Documents section.

Site Background

In September 2016, Ecology and the Port of Seattle (Port) amended an existing Agreed Order (AO) for site cleanup. The AO required the Port to implement cleanup actions for the tank farm and affected areas. The amendment allowed the Port to address a narrow shoal along the south end of Pier 91.

The Terminal 91 Complex (T91 Complex) is located in an industrial area in the Interbay neighborhood of Seattle. Various railroads, land development companies, and private individuals owned the property from the late 1800s through 1920. The Great Northern Railroad began to develop the area in the early 1900s by filling in the area between Magnolia Bluff and Queen Anne Hill. Filling continued through the 1940's.
 
The T91 Complex was operated by several oil companies from 1926 until 1941, when the U.S. Navy took possession. The Port purchased the facility in the 1970s. A four-acre parcel of the T91 Complex is the site of a former tank farm. Constructed in the 1920s, it operated as a fuel storage facility until it was demolished in 2005. In 1992, the owner of the tank farm, Burlington Environmental Inc. (BEI), was issued a permit to operate as a dangerous waste treatment and storage facility (TSD). Although the permit is no longer active, the Port is responsible for cleanup of contamination at the site.

Activities conducted on site include:

  • Storage of fuel and waste oil.
  • Blending and storage of marine boiler fuel, diesel, and other petroleum products. 
  • Treatment of wastewater from oil and coolant emulsions, industrial wastewater, and sludge.
  • Treatment of bilge and ballast waters.

Contamination

Submerged lands (sediments at the bottom of Elliot Bay): The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) started cleaning up the marine sediments under the water in 2010 when discarded military munitions were discovered near T-90 and T-91. The Corps investigated to locate the discarded munitions and removed them in 2012.

When the Navy owned the facility, they sometimes disposed of munitions overboard without documentation while ships were in port. Occasionally law enforcement divers still find and remove munitions.

Historic land use and industrial practices also contaminated the sediments with chemicals and metals. Contaminants there include:

• Metals – arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, silver, and zinc
• Tributyltin
• Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• Phthalates
• Semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)
• Poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Tank Farm:
The Port removed above ground tanks and contaminated structures in 2014.  Under a restrictive covenant, the Port can only use the land in ways that prevent people from coming in contact with any remaining hazardous substances. Philip Services Corp. operated the former tank farm as a TSD. Other Port tenants used those same tanks for fuel storage and distribution.

Uplands: The Port cleaned up the remainder of the upland areas, other than the Tank Farm Area beginning in 1999. Soil in these areas was contaminated mostly with petroleum products.

Cleanup

Formal Cleanup Process
Formal Cleanup Process
Submerged Lands
The submerged lands are in the Remedial Investigation (RI) phase of Washington's cleanup process.


Uplands
The uplands portion of the site completed their Cleanup Action Plan (CAP). Long-term monitoring continues.
Legal 10
Map 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
T 91 Facility Diagram 10/10/2019 Map
Public Information 10
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 SEPA DNS 9/16/2010 SEPA Documents
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 SEPA Checklist 9/16/2010 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 52
Document Title Document Date Document Type
T91 2023 Q4 AO Quarterly 1/16/2024 Site Specific Technical Document - other
T91 2023 Q3 AO Quarterly_10-05-2023 10/5/2023 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Draft T91 Interim Action Work Plan 2023 3/11/2023 Interim Action Documents
T91 2022 Q2 AO Quarterly 7/20/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Port of Seattle - Approval of annual compliance monitoring Report - DE8938 1/8/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
SLA Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan – Data Mgt Plan 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_AppC Maps_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_AppC_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_AttC1_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_Maps2_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_Maps1_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Remedial Investigation Work Plan_toEcology_01-04-21 1/4/2021 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
T-91 Tank Farm Affected Area - Annual Monitoring Report 10/30/2020 Groundwater Monitoring Report
Terminal 91 Permit - FINAL January 2020 1/1/2020 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Cleanup Process Graphic 7/9/2019 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Seattle Port Terminal 91 - Status Report for 4th Quarter 2018 Agreed Order DE 8938 4/15/2019 Progress Report
Navy Hoist Remedial Excavation Completion Report, T- 91 9/13/2018 Remedial Action Report
T-91 2018 Sediment Chemical Results Maps, Phase 2 8/1/2018 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
T-91 Submerged Lands Area Preliminary Investigation, Phase 2 8/1/2018 Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
T 91 2018 Sublands Preliminary Investigation Phase 2 SAP 3/15/2018 Sampling and Analysis Plan
T 91 2018 Preliminary Investigation Phase I Report 1/2/2018 Remedial Investigation Report
T-91 Buidling 136 Navy Hoist Environmental Investigation Work Plan 12/7/2017 Sampling and Analysis Plan
Construction Report Terminal 91 Tank Farm Affected Area 10/13/2017 Remedial Action Report
T-91 Submerged Lands Area Preliminary Investigation Sampling and Anaylysis Plan, Map 10/12/2017 Sampling and Analysis Plan
T-91 Submerged Lands Area Preliminary Investigation Sampling and Anaylysis Plan, Appendix B 10/12/2017 Sampling and Analysis Plan
T-91 Submerged Lands Area Preliminary Investigation Sampling and Anaylysis Plan, Appendix A 10/12/2017 Sampling and Analysis Plan
T-91 Submerged Landa Area Preliminary Investigation Sampling and Anaylysis Plan 10/12/2017 Sampling and Analysis Plan
T 91 Historical Review Report Maps 1/31/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
T 91 Historical Review Appendix A Sample Results Spreadsheet 1/31/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
T 91 Historical Review Appendix A Sample Results 1/31/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
T 91 Historical Review Report 1/31/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
Draft Feasiblity Study, Piers 90 and 91, Former Seattle Naval Supply Depot 5/1/2016 Feasibility Study
Draft Feasiblity Study, Piers 90 and 91, Former Seattle Naval Supply Depot 5/1/2016 Feasibility Study
Former Seattle Naval Supply Deport Piers 90 and 91, Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Investigation 9/1/2013 Remedial Investigation Report
Former Seattle Naval Supply Deport Piers 90 and 91, Formerly Used Defense Site Remedial Investigation 9/1/2013 Remedial Investigation Report
Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) Manual Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup 7/11/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - other
T91 Technical Specifications 7/11/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Operation and Maintenance Plan Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup 7/11/2013 Operation and Maintenance Plan
Compliance Monitoring Plan Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup 7/11/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Engineering Design Report Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup Port of Seattle, Seattle, Washington 7/11/2013 Engineering Design Report
(Letter) Transmittal of Final Engineering Design Report and Associated Documents Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Site Agreed Order No. 8938 7/11/2013 Engineering Design Report
(Drawings) Engineering Design Report Submittal Terminal 91 Tank Farm Cleanup 7/8/2013 Engineering Design Report
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 - Dangerous Waste Permit for Corrective Action #WAD980982706 4/10/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 - Modified Dangerous Waste Permit (Jan 2012) 1/20/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 - Final Data Gaps Investigation Work Plan Terminal 91 Farm Affected Area Cleanup 10/1/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Dangerous Waste Permit (2) 7/2/2010 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 - Cleanup Action Plan (June 2010) 6/1/2010 Cleanup Action Plan
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 DCAP 4/1/2010 Cleanup Action Plan
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Dangerous Waste Management Permit 1/28/2010 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Final Draft Feasibility Report 11/1/2009 Feasibility Study
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Feasibility Study Cleanup Levels 5/1/2008 Feasibility Study
Port of Seattle Terminal 91 Remedial Investigation Summary Report 8/1/2007 Remedial Investigation Report
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 Office
    15700 Dayton Ave N
    Shoreline, 98133
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 10

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Other Contaminant - Base/Neutral/Acid Organics S C
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics C C
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants C C
Metals - Metals - Other S S
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified C B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Phenolic Compounds S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons C S
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline C 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.