We've made some changes to EPA.gov. If the information you are looking for is not here, you may be able to find it on the EPA Web Archive or the January 19, 2017 Web Snapshot.

News Releases from Region 10

EPA Seeking Public Input on Cleanup Plans for the Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund Site on Bainbridge Island, Wash.

NOTE: The public comment deadline is now extended to June 30, 2016

04/25/2016
Contact Information: 
Suzanne Skadowski (skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov)
206-553-2160

(Seattle – April 25, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a draft plan to clean up toxic creosote contamination at the Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund Site, located on the east side of Bainbridge Island, Washington. The cleanup plans will address historic creosote and related chemical contamination that remains in the site’s groundwater, soil, and beach. EPA is hosting a public meeting this week and will be accepting public comments on the cleanup plans until May 31. [NOTE: The public comment deadline is now extended to June 30, 2016.]

Public Meeting

April 27, 2016: City Hall Council Chambers, 280 Madison Ave., Bainbridge Island, Wash.

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.  Informal Open House and Poster Session: EPA’s project team will be available to answer questions along with state Department of Ecology officials.

6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Presentation and Public Hearing: EPA’s project manager will present the proposed cleanup plan and take verbal and written public comments.

Proposed Cleanup

To address soil and groundwater contamination at the former Wyckoff wood treating facility, EPA will use a combination of cleanup technologies. Cement and other reagents will be mixed into the most heavily contaminated soil more than 50 feet below ground to prevent the contamination from moving any further. In less contaminated areas, contaminants will be extracted with new groundwater wells, and air and nutrients will be injected to speed the natural breakdown of contaminants by bacteria. Finally, a thick layer of clean soil will be placed over the soil and a new concrete perimeter wall will be built next to the existing metal wall. In the adjacent beaches, EPA will remove contaminated sediments to a depth of 30 inches and backfill with a clean sand cap designed to prevent contaminants from coming up to the beach surface. The proposed cleanup will take at least 10 years to design and build and will cost an estimated $71 to $81 million, paid for by 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funding. When cleanup is completed, the site will be incorporated into Pritchard Park.

History

EPA added the Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor site to the national Superfund cleanup list in 1987 after finding creosote and other toxic wood-treating chemicals in soil, groundwater, beaches and sediment in Eagle Harbor. EPA completed multiple clean up actions over the years, but significant contamination still remains in the soil and groundwater. The site’s groundwater extraction system and perimeter wall are preventing contaminants from moving into Eagle Harbor. These measures are effective but expensive, costing about $800,000 to operate each year and may take more than 100 years to meet cleanup goals. Creosote also remains in the beaches, which are closed to shellfish harvesting, and warning signs are in place to discourage beach use.

More Information

Public comments on the proposed cleanup plan are due by May 31, 2016, to:  Helen Bottcher, Project Manager; U.S. EPA Region 10 (ECL-122); 1200 6th Ave.; Seattle, WA 98101 or wyckoffcomments@epa.gov. [NOTE: The public comment deadline is now extended to June 30, 2016.]

The cleanup plan and supporting documents are also available at the Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave., Bainbridge Island, WA, (206) 842-4162, and at EPA’s Superfund Records Center, 1200 6th Ave., Seattle, WA, (206) 553-4494 or (800) 424-4372.

The draft cleanup plan and feasibility studies are available online at:  www.epa.gov/superfund/wyckoff-eagle-harbor.

# # #