USA: Ecology Seeks Comments on Cornet Bay Marina Cleanup Plan

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) would remove soil and treat groundwater contaminated from past fuel leaks at Whidbey Island’s Cornet Bay Marina under a proposed cleanup plan for the site.

Ecology seeks comment on the plan, site studies, an environmental review and a public involvement plan through Aug. 26, 2013. The work would begin this fall with completion scheduled by year’s end.

The 1.1-acre site along Deception Pass adjoins a moorage, with an on-dock marine fueling station. An underground storage tank located on land leaked gasoline and diesel fuel in the 1980s.

Under a 1993 legal agreement, called a consent decree, Ecology and the property owner agreed on a cost-sharing plan to investigate, plan and conduct the cleanup. Ecology made the agreement under a former program called Mixed Funding that used cost sharing to encourage cleanup of contaminated sites. The work will be completed using the state toxic control account, funded by a tax on oil and other hazardous materials.

“We’re very pleased to be reaching this stage,” said Bob Warren, Ecology’s regional manager for toxic cleanup. “We appreciate the confidence shown by our Legislature in moving this project forward. It will protect Cornet Bay and Deception Pass from pollution that otherwise could move into these marine waters.”

Ecology seeks public comment on four documents:

– A remedial investigation and feasibility study that evaluated the site’s contamination and proposed three cleanup alternatives.

– A cleanup action plan, based on one of the alternatives.

– A declaration of non-significance, which is a report of an environmental review of the proposed project.

Under the proposed plan, a contractor would construct a sheet pile bulkhead to replace the marina’s timber bulkhead on the shoreline. The new bulkhead would prevent contaminated water from reaching Cornet Bay.

Next, a system to pump contaminated groundwater would treat and release the water into the bay. The contractor would remove contaminated soil and replace it with clean soil. Temporary platforms will make the marina accessible during the project, but the fuel station may have to close for short periods.

[mappress]

Press Release, July 23, 2013