CURRENT STATUS

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) held a public comment period between February 4 and March 5, 2019 for Agreed Order DE 15953.  No comments were received. The Agreed Order is now final.  Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority will use past investigations and close data gaps to develop a remedial investigation, feasibility study, and cleanup action plan.  The environmental covenant that was placed on the wrong parcel will be removed.    

The Washington Department of Ecology held a public comment period between February 4 and March 5, 2019 on three documents for the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill site in Aberdeen.  

Agreed Order DE #15953  - A formal agreement, which requires the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Association (GHHSA), the current landowner to use past investigations and close any data gaps to develop a remedial investigation, feasibility study, and a draft cleanup action plan (CAP).

Removal of the environmental covenant – The environmental covenant, which restricts access to soil and groundwater, was placed on the wrong parcel in the 1990s after cleanup was done on part of the site.  GHHSA proposes to remove the covenant and clean up the site so there will be unrestricted land use.  If needed, a new covenant will be placed as part of the CAP. 
 
Public Participation Plan – A plan, which describes how Ecology will inform the community about site activities and opportunities to be involved in the cleanup process.

To review the fact sheet, please view the following link:
Weyerhaeuser Sawmill Aberdeen Fact Sheet

Comments can be submitted using the online form at:
http://cs.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=Fdx2c

Ecology will consider comments before the Agreed Order, document for the proposed removal of the environmental covenant, and Public Participation Plan are finalized. We will reply to comments in a responsiveness summary after the comment period ends.

SITE DESCRIPTION

The site consists of several parcels of land generally located at 500 North Custer Street where there was a sawmill complex.  It includes upland properties and 14.48 acres of state-owned tidelands managed by the Department of Natural Resources.  

From the early 1900s, the site was used for sawmills and other forest product industries.  Weyerhaeuser Company operated two sawmills, steam drying kilns, and wood refuse burners between 1955 and 2013.  Additional activities included wood chipping and barge loading. Recent investigations identified many potential sources of contaminants and contaminated areas. These include Shannon Slough, former maintenance areas, and chemical and hazardous material storage buildings, buildings used to treat lumber, above and below ground storage tanks.

GHHSA acquired the parcels from Weyerhaeuser in 2013 and agreed to take responsibility for cleaning up any legacy environmental contamination.  

The following contaminants are suspected to be found in sediments, soil, or groundwater:

• Benzoic acid
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Wood waste
• Mercury 
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 
• Metals (chromium, lead, copper, and manganese)
• Petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) 
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Dioxins
• Phenol

The presence of these materials above state sediment, soil, and groundwater cleanup standards can be harmful to human health and the environment.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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