Cleanup Plan Approved For Waterfront

Fri., Jan. 26, 1996

Associated Press

A new, more flexible plan for cleaning up contaminated soil at Harbor Island on the city’s waterfront will speed up the process and save $6 million, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.

Some of the soil on the island is polluted with heavy metals and petroleum, threatening the Elliott Bay marine environment.

The EPA, the Port of Seattle and other parties have agreed to the new cleanup plan that requires treatment of highly contaminated soil and landfill disposal of soil that’s not as contaminated.

Under the new cleanup plan, crews will test “hot spot” soil to determine the appropriate disposal method. The most toxic soils will be treated.

EPA’s regional Superfund manager Mike Gearheard said the plan will accelerate cleanup by almost a year without sacrificing environmental protection.

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