Facility Site ID: 12
Cleanup Site ID: 2903

Aerial view of cleanup site area (click to enlarge)
Aerial view of cleanup site area (click to enlarge)

Current Status

Last Updated: August 2020

Ecology held a comment period on an agreed order (legal agreement), supplemental upland remedial investigation work plan, and public participation plan for the Weyerhaeuser Everett Mill E cleanup site (Site) in Summer 2020. Based on Ecology’s evaluation of the comments, no changes were made to the documents, and they are being finalized. The Site is located next to the Snohomish River in northeast Everett, WA.


The legal agreement between Ecology, Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhaeuser) and M.A.P. #2, LLC (M.A.P.) will require these potentially liable parties (PLPs) to complete a supplemental investigation, analyze cleanup options, and create a focused cleanup plan. After cleanup in 1999 by Weyerhaeuser under an Ecology-approved cleanup plan, periodic sampling shows that arsenic contamination levels may still be present in uncontained parts of the Site. Potential releases like this may be harmful to human health and the environment and must be further investigated and addressed under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

The following documents were available for review and comment from June 22 - July 21, 2020:

Agreed Order:  this is a legal agreement between Ecology, Weyerhaeuser, and M.A.P. that requires these PLPs to investigate and describe contamination (Supplemental Remedial Investigation), analyze cleanup options (Focused Feasibility Study), and develop a draft Focused Cleanup Action Plan.

Supplemental Upland Remedial Investigation Work Plan: this document describes required additional testing in the soil and groundwater to begin in 2020. This information will support the Final Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report.

Public Participation Plan: this document explains how people can participate in the cleanup process.

General Cleanup Process

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA; Chapter 70.105D RCW) 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.

Site Timeline

June 22 – July 21, 2020:
• 30-day public comment period.

Later 2020:
• Finalize documents. Ecology will review and consider all comments received and respond accordingly.

• Begin supplemental investigation testing.

2021 and beyond:
• PLPs begin work on Supplemental Remedial Investigation, Focused Feasibility Study, and draft Focused Cleanup Action Plan. These documents will be available for public review and comment.

• Ecology will approve a final Focused Cleanup Action Plan and determine when it is needed.

Public Participation

Weyerhaeuser Everett Mill E 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.  

Site Background

The Weyerhaeuser Everett Mill E Site is 8.9 acres located in northeast Everett, along the western bank of the Snohomish River. It is approximately two miles upstream of the river’s mouth. It is industrial property that is zoned M-2 heavy manufacturing. The Site was once part of a larger sawmill complex known as Mill B, or the Weyerhaeuser Everett East Site.

1915-1948: Weyerhaeuser used Mill E for lumber storage.

1948-1963: American Lumber and Treating Corporation (Koppers Company aka Beazer East, Inc.) used the Site for treating lumber from 1948 to 1963.

1963-1984: Weyerhaeuser converted part of the facility into an engine maintenance shop.

1971-1984: A small-diameter log sawmill operated at the northeast end of the site.
  
2005: Weyerhaeuser sold property that included Mill E in August 2005 to a subsidiary of Pacific Topsoils, Inc. (M.A.P.) who used the site to store wood pallets.

Cleanup Completed In 1999

Everett Lumber plant site along edge of Snohomish River. In center of picture is Mill B, planing mill, loading shed; on far side of bridges is Mill C (dark buildings). Everett Pulp Division kraft mill is in the upper left. Weyerhaeuser Archives.
Everett Lumber plant site along edge of Snohomish River. In center of picture is Mill B, planing mill, loading shed; on far side of bridges is Mill C (dark buildings). Everett Pulp Division kraft mill is in the upper left. Weyerhaeuser Archives.

Weyerhaeuser and Ecology entered into a Consent Decree (legal agreement) in 1998.  Under that legal agreement, Weyerhaeuser completed cleanup actions at the Site in 1999. Long-term monitoring has been conducted since then under the terms of the Consent Decree.

There is an Environmental Covenant on the Site that restricts certain activities that would compromise the cleanup.

Contamination And Focused Cleanup

Cleanup site facing southeast, March 2020
Cleanup site facing southeast, March 2020

Weyerhaeuser and M.A.P. conduct annual cleanup performance monitoring under the Consent Decree. Ecology performs periodic reviews of these testing reports. These monitoring reports and periodic reviews are available for review on the "View documents" link.

Contamination in uncontained areas on the Site requires additional investigation. Arsenic contamination remains in soil and groundwater exceeding MTCA cleanup standards.

Additional testing, beginning in 2020, will provide information for the Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report that will describe the nature and extent of contamination on the Site. The Focused Feasibility Study and draft Focused Cleanup Action Plan will address contamination still present after the 1999 cleanup actions.


Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect

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.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 1999072660455
County Recording Date: 7/26/1999

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Ongoing Maintenance of Remedy
  • Prohibit Soil Disturbance
  • Restrict Access
  • Restrict All Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
  • Restrict Domestic Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
  • Restrict Land Use

Restricted Media

  • Groundwater
  • Soil
No documents found.
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
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.

Contaminants 5

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Organics RA RA
Metals - Metals - Other RA RA
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons RA
Metals - Arsenic RA RA
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other RA RA
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.