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

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FEBRUARY 25, 2021-MARCH 29, 2021

Ecology invites you to review and comment on the periodic review for this site. When contamination remains on a site after cleanup work is complete, we review the elements of the cleanup that protect people and the environment from exposure. These reviews take place approximately every five years, to make sure those elements remain effective. For this site, an environmental covenant is in place that lists several requirements including a thick cap over contaminated soil and regular groundwater testing.

This periodic review found that the requirements of the covenant are being followed and the cap had not been damaged. No additional cleanup actions are required at this time. The next review for the site will be scheduled five years from the date of this periodic review.  

Ecology will review comments received during the comment period and make recommendations for suggested changes. The periodic review will become final if no significant changes are made.

• 2021 Periodic Review report

• Submit comments online
• Send an email to Arianne.Fernandez@ecy.wa.gov
• Mail written comments to:
Arianne Fernandez, Project Lead
Toxics Cleanup Program
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504

SITE DESCRIPTION

The Shell Oil Tank Farm Site, at 14th Street and Q Avenue in Anacortes was originally a portion of the Fidalgo Bay tide flats, which were filled to current grade between 1925 and 1929. The property was acquired by the Port in 1929 and leased to the Shell Oil Company (Shell) in 1930 for use as a bulk fuel storage and distribution facility that primarily handled gasoline and diesel-range fuels. Site facilities included three 25,000 gallon aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and a 2,000 gallon underground storage tank (UST). In the 1950s, two additional 12,500 gallon ASTs were installed at the Site and the 2,000 gallon UST was reportedly replaced with a 4,000 gallon UST. 

The Site was operated by Shell and various bulk product distributors until 1987, at which time operations ceased and the facility was reportedly decommissioned, including removal of all tanks, associated piping, and structures. Additionally at this time, an unknown volume of soil was excavated from one or more of the areas in which surface staining was observed. Currently, the former Shell Oil Tank Farm Site is used by the Port as a vehicle and boat trailer parking lot supporting the trailer boat launch facility located to the east of Cap Sante Boat Haven.

SITE STATUS

The Port of Anacortes completed cleanup work in 2014, after taking 4,300 cubic yards of contaminated soil off-site to a permitted facility. Some soil that was contaminated with diesel, oil, cadmium, gasoline, and benzene could not be removed because utility lines prevented access. In 2017, an environmental covenant was recorded for the site, requiring specific activities and tools to protect people and the environment from exposure to that remaining contamination. Once the covenant was in place, Ecology declared the cleanup work complete.

The environmental covenant lists these key requirements:

·  Contaminated soil must be contained by a two to three foot cap and a protective barrier that aids in biological breakdown of remaining organic contaminants.

·  Data must be collected from groundwater wells regularly to monitor the performance of the cleanup.

According to the covenant, any accidental damage to these systems must be reported to Ecology, and planned work that could compromise their integrity must be approved by Ecology.

Because of the remaining contamination and requirements of the environmental covenant, periodic reviews are required for this site to be sure people and the environment are not
exposed. We will review the conditions of the environmental covenant and the physical condition of the site every five years to ensure the cleanup work remains effective.

SITE DOCUMENTS

A selection of documents are listed below.  Additional electronic documents pertaining to the site can be found under the "View Electronic Documents" link located in the right hand column.

• Shell Oil Tank Farm Former Draft Consent Decree with Exhibits A-C
• Shell Oil Tank Farm Former Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study February 2014
• Shell Oil Tank Farm Former Final Cleanup Action Plan February 2014
• Shell Oil Tank Farm Former Final Public Participation Plan December 2013
• Shell Oil Tank Farm Former Fact Sheet December 2013

RELATED INFORMATION

• Watershed Information for WRIA 3  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Acronyms used by the Toxics Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Toxics Cleanup publications