SKS Shell Station

Ecology held a comment period from February 26 to March 26, 2024 for the SKS Shell Cleanup Site (Site). The comment period was for Ecology's proposal to dismiss the Consent Decree for the Site.

Ecology has determined that the cleanup action at the Site meets the state cleanup regulations (Model Toxics Control Act). The Site was cleaned up under a Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree. Concentrations of chemicals of concern in soil and groundwater no longer pose a threat to human health and the environment.

Ecology did not receive any comments during the comment period and will now proceed with the proposed steps. The Attorney General’s Office will seek joint dismissal of the Decree in King County Superior Court.

The following documents were shared to provide more information about the Consent Decree dismissal: 

• Groundwater Monitoring Report from the Second Quarter of 2023: This report is the fourth consecutive quarter of groundwater quality that meets Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) Standards.
• Site Closure Presentation: Explaining current and historical environmental conditions on the Site and why the Consent Decree should be dismissed. 
• Satisfaction of Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree Letter: This letter provides written notification that no further contamination cleanup is required under the MTCA. 

The February 2024 community-wide mailer summarizes the activities of this cleanup site.

The Site is located in the West Seattle neighborhood at the northeast corner of the intersection of SW Alaska Street and Fauntleroy Way SW. The Site property totals 0.14 acres.

The Site was developed as a gasoline station and auto repair shop in 1934. Various oil companies operated at the Site selling petroleum products including Gilmore Red Lion   in the 1930s, Mobil Oil in the 1940s, Texaco in the 1950s, Atlantic Richfield in the 1960s, Arco from 1975 to 1995, Texaco from 1998 to 2004, and Shell from 2004 to 2013. 

In 2016, the property was redeveloped with mixed-use commercial/residential buildings with below ground parking.

2013 cleanup activities included the following:

• Seven underground storage tanks (USTs) that formerly stored gasoline and diesel fuel were decommissioned and removed from the Site.
• Approximately 9,563 tons of contaminated soil were excavated from the Site property and properly disposed of off-Site at permitted disposal facilities.
• Approximately 135,780 gallons of contaminated groundwater were extracted, treated, and disposed of in accordance with MTCA requirements during the 2015 soil removal.

Environmental protection measures are now in place.  

• Compliance groundwater monitoring as of June 2023 shows all of the Site’s chemicals of concern were at concentrations below the cleanup levels. Groundwater cleanup standards have also been met. 
• Around 500 cubic yards of contaminated soil could not be removed without damaging utility and right-of-way infrastructure. This soil remains below the SW Alaska Street and Fauntleroy Way SW rights-of-way at 20 feet belowground. Site data shows that this soil contamination is not impacting groundwater and is not a risk for human exposure due to its depth.
• A chemically-resistant vapor barrier was installed during redevelopment below the garage floor and outside of the garage walls. This was installed to prevent possible chemical vapors from any remaining contamination from entering the garage.