Unocal Edmonds Bulk Fuel Terminal 0178

Last updated: December 2024

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The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is overseeing the cleanup of the Unocal Edmonds Bulk Fuel Terminal 0178 cleanup site (Site). The Site is located near the Edmonds waterfront and consists of an Upper and Lower Yard. Union Oil Company of California (Unocal) is a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and Chevron Environmental Management Company is conducting the cleanup under Ecology’s oversight.

Multiple Interim Actions (or early partial cleanups) have been completed to remove petroleum floating on groundwater and soil contaminated with arsenic and petroleum. The Upper Yard portion of the Site was cleaned up in 2003 and the Lower Yard portion is near completion. Remaining contamination is potentially harmful and must be addressed under Washington’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

We held an extended comment period from September 9 - November 24, 2024, on the following documents:

Revised Draft Feasibility Study: An evaluation of ways to clean up the Site, and a recommended preferred cleanup alternative. This includes:

• 2017 Draft Feasibility Study
• 2024 Draft Feasibility Study Addendum
• Site-Specific Terrestrial Ecological Evaluation    

Updated Public Participation Plan: A document explaining how people can participate in the cleanup process.

An open house and hybrid public meeting were held on September 16, 2024, to provide project information and answer questions. The PowerPoint presentation from the meeting is available for review. 

Ecology will consider all comments received and provide a Response to Comments summary document in 2025. 

Based on the comments received, the documents may be amended. If the documents require significant changes, we will hold another public comment period for review of the documents. If no significant changes are made, Ecology will finalize the documents. 

Based on additional Site sampling, Ecology will continue planning the cleanup and schedule a public comment period for the Draft Cleanup Action Plan, the Consent Decree, and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Nonsignificance.

Review the most recent Questions and Answers Sheet for more information.

Join our email list to receive updates about the Unocal Edmonds Bulk Fuel Terminal 0178 cleanup site. Email Kristen Forkeutis, Public Involvement Coordinator, at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov to be added to the list. Unsubscribe at any time.

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 MTCA and oversees cleanups. The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.

Current Unocal Edmonds cleanup site Public Participation Plan

This plan describes how Ecology will share information with the community and how you can share information with us. Ecology will review this plan as the cleanup progresses and amend/update it as necessary.

The Site is located at 11720 Unoco Road in Edmonds, WA. The terminal operated from 1923 to 1991. It was used for storing, blending, and distributing petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, and bunker fuel. An asphalt plant operated on the Site between 1953 and the late 1970s.

The terminal consisted of a dock and an Upper and a Lower Yard. Petroleum products were pumped from marine vessels moored at the dock to storage tanks in the Upper Yard, located on a hill above the Lower Yard. Products were gravity-fed and pumped to loading racks in the Lower Yard for transport by truck and train to customers.

The City of Edmonds has expressed interest in using a portion of the Lower Yard for restoring the Edmonds Marsh and Willow Creek. 

Several Interim Actions have been conducted over the years to clean up petroleum floating on groundwater, remove arsenic-contaminated soil, and remove petroleum-contaminated soil. Removal of petroleum-contaminated soil resulted in cleanup of groundwater, and most of the Site is now clean.

1991
Unocal Edmonds Bulk Fuel Terminal 0178 site is ranked the highest assessed risk and listed as a contaminated site by Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) Toxics Cleanup Program.
 
1992
Unocal installed recovery wells in the Lower Yard and began removing petroleum product from the groundwater.

1993
Union Oil of California (Unocal) enters into cleanup agreement (Agreed Order) under Model Toxics Control Act with Ecology.

1994

• Remedial Investigation began with sampling and analysis of soils and groundwater.
• Product recovery continues until circa 2000 from wells in the Lower Yard; totals approximately 2000 gallons petroleum.

2001-03, Upper Yard Remediation Actions

• ~100,000 tons of metals and petroleum-impacted soil and 23 fuel storage tanks removed
• Upper Yard approved for residential development
• Construction of Point Edward condominiums begins.

2001-03, Lower Yard Remediation Actions
~40,000 tons of metals and petroleum-impacted soil removed

2004
Range of cleanup options for Lower Yard selected.

2005

• Phase 1 of Point Edwards opens on the site of former Upper Yard.
• Unocal enters a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation for the Lower Yard.

2007
Ecology and Unocal enters into another cleanup agreement (Agreed Order) to conduct interim actions.

2007-2008, Lower Yard Remediation Actions

• ~130,000 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil and sediment removed along with sand blast grit containing arsenic and lead.
• ~9,000 gallons of non-aqueous phase liquid removed

2008
Confirmational groundwater monitoring begins.

2010
Completed data collection and monitoring of Lower Yard cleanup.

2011

• Ecology determines that additional cleanup steps are needed for Lower Yard; Ecology approved Feasibility Study Work Plan.
• Groundwater monitoring continues.

2014
Unocal, a subsidiary of Chevron, submits draft Feasibility Study for full Lower Yard cleanup.

2015
Wells installed and pilot test study for Dual-Phase Extraction System for Lower Yard area beneath a Washington State Department of Transportation stormwater line.

2016

• Interim Cleanup Action work plan approved for the 2 remaining areas on the Lower Yard.
• Work delayed for NPDES Permit appeal for treated groundwater discharge to surface water.

2017

• Agreed Order amendment becomes effective after NPDES Permit issued to support interim action cleanup in 2 remaining areas on Lower Yard.
• Phase II of Point Edwards Condominiums begins on the Upper Yard.

2017-18, Remediation Actions

• Petroleum-contaminated soils removed from stormwater Detention Basin 2
• Installed dual-phase extraction system (removes and treats petroleum from soil, groundwater, and soil vapor) in the WSDOT storm drain area

2018 – Present

• Limited re-design of Dual-Phase Extraction System to cover a few localized spots throughout the Lower Yard.
• Expand dual-phase extraction system to optimize groundwater capture in the north/northeast of the WSDOT storm drain treatment area
• Interim cleanup action monitoring continuing.

To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6831, email ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or visit ecology.wa.gov/Accessibility. For Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.

If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.