Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals LLC

Kinder Morgan Harbor Island Terminal is in compliance with Washington State cleanup regulations. Kinder Morgan and neighboring Shell Harbor Island Terminal (located West of the Kinder Morgan facility) are working together on the cleanup of contaminated groundwater beneath a portion of 13th Ave SW situated between the two facilities. The 2019 monitoring results show some wells to contain increasing but low level concentrations of petroleum-gasoline in groundwater associated with 13th Ave SW/SH-04 area.

Kinder Morgan Site is divided into five yards referred to as the A, B, C, D, and E Yards. 

In the last five years, B Yard showed petroleum gasoline exceedances in four groundwater compliance wells ranging from 1.02 to 11.6 milligrams per liter (parts per million), wherein the cleanup level is 1 mg/L.  C and D Yards each show one well above cleanup level, while A and E Yards are all in compliance.

Groundwater analytical data collected between 2015 and 2019 indicate decreasing or stable concentrations of TPH-gasoline, benzene and total lead, which exceed Site-specific cleanup levels in some Site wells.  All other Site contaminants of concern (COCs), including TPH-diesel, TPH-heavy oils, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, are below their respective Site cleanup levels.  Groundwater monitoring data from the third quarter of 2019 indicated
that the concentrations of COCs exceeded Site-specific groundwater cleanup levels in six onsite monitoring wells (12, MW-3, MW-7, MW-19, TMW-4, and TMW-6).  However, concentrations of COCs in these wells have exhibited stable or decreasing trends since sulfate land application started (see below for more information).

Measurable sheen to remove product (SPH) has decreased significantly and has been observed intermittently in just two monitoring wells (A-6 and A-16). Hydrocarbon absorbent socks are placed in wells with measurable SPH when needed. 

Starting in June 2013, remedial activities included focused enhanced anaerobic biological oxidation (ABOx) by application of sulfate. Land application of gypsum and Epsom salt provides a source of sulfate to the shallow groundwater and smear zone encountered at the site.  In addition, it serves as a terminal electron acceptor for indigenous bacteria capable of biodegrading petroleum hydrocarbons. The approximate sulfate land application areas are in portions of B, C, and D Yards.  The applications occurred in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 and currently continue to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon impacts.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed the Fifth Five-Year Review Report for the Harbor Island Superfund Site. This report presents information for 2015 2019 period for cleanup action progress at the three petroleum terminals on Harbor Island called Operable Unit OU-2. The terminals represent one out of ten Operable Units within the Superfund Site. These results show the three terminals are in compliance with federal and state cleanup requirements.

Overall, EPA found the remedies at the Tank Farm OU to be protective of human health and the environment due to the multiple remediation methods that have been treating contamination, site monitoring, and environmental covenants that ensure that there is no exposure to site contaminants.  For more information, see below.

Ecology is pleased to announce that the EPA’s Fifth Five-Year Review Report for Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminal (KMLT) for 2015 through 2019 is final after the public comment period held May 12, 2020 through August 31, 2020.  The report highlights the cleanup actions conducted at the KMLT terminal, and former GATX Terminal Harbor Island.  The KMLT is one of three petroleum terminals at Harbor Island and part of the US EPA Harbor Island Superfund Site.  The three terminals make up Operable Unit #2.

The Fifth Five-Year Review Report shows that the KMLT and the two other petroleum terminals at Harbor Island are in compliance with the MTCA requirements and legal agreement called the Consent Decree.  The report shows that the cleanup actions completed appear to be protective of human health and the environment.  Some cleanup actions will continue at specific locations with groundwater compliance monitoring.

Based on this periodic review for 2015 – 2019, Ecology has determined that the requirements of the Consent Decree for Kinder Morgan Liquids Harbor Island Terminal are being met and no additional cleanup actions are required other than continued specific cleanup actions and compliance monitoring.  The next periodic review happens in 2024.

Kinder Morgan Liquids (previously known as GATX Terminals) is an industrial site (petroleum bulk storage and distribution facility) located at 2720 13th Avenue SW on Harbor Island in Seattle, King County. The facility has been in operation since 1944 under three owners. Soil and groundwater at various areas within the facility were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Surface soil was contaminated with lead and arsenic from an offsite smelter operation. Cleanup of lead and arsenic contamination was completed. Cleanup of petroleum contamination is ongoing.

Harbor Island is a Superfund site and is on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List. Ecology works with EPA and continues to monitor compliance and cleanup progress.