Site Description
Terminal 30 (T-30) is a 33.9-acre property addressed at 1901 East Marginal Way South in Seattle, Washington. The site is located on the shoreline of the East Waterway. The cleanup site is comprised of one large and one small area totaling approximately 11 acres located in the northern portion of the property. T-30 currently operates as a freight terminal and provides shipping container storage. T-30 is currently vacant, but provides temporary cargo storage, as needed.
Site History
Prior to the channelization of the Duwamish River in the 1900s, the land occupied by present-day T-30, was part of the Elliot Bay tide flats. During channelization, the flats were filled with various materials including dredged materials. In 1905, the Standard Oil Company (now Chevron) occupied the northern portion of the site and operated a bulk fuel terminal where fuels including gasoline, diesel, and heating oil were stored in numerous above-ground tanks. The southern portion of the terminal was used for a variety of industrial operations, including a lumber yard, a machine shop, and a shipyard. In 1950, Chevron expanded the fuel terminal to the southern portion of the site. In 1985, the Port purchased the site from Chevron and redeveloped it as a cargo container terminal. From 2003 to 2008 the site included a cruise ship terminal.
Contamination Issue
Historical operations contaminated soil and groundwater. The soil is contaminated with petroleum. Groundwater contaminants include petroleum, benzene, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. An on-site stormwater management system treats stormwater runoff using oil and water separators and filters before discharging the water into the East Waterway. Contaminated groundwater does not enter the on-site stormwater system or the East Waterway.
Why is the Port Doing this Cleanup?
In the 1980s, Chevron discovered petroleum contamination in the soil and groundwater and initiated the cleanup work. In 1985, upon purchasing the property from Chevron, the Port inherited the property’s historical contamination. The Port continues cleanup efforts at T-30 to ensure the protection of human health and prevent contamination discharging into the East Waterway.
The cleanup is being conducted under an Agreed Order (AO) between Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the Port. The AO requires the Port to implement the remedial actions set forth in the Cleanup Action Plan, including confirmation, performance, and compliance monitoring. The Port currently performs quarterly air sparging and soil vapor extraction treatment and light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) recovery.
Status
The site is currently in the long-term operation and maintenance phase of the cleanup. The Port operates the onsite air sparge/soil vapor extraction system and performs vapor monitoring twice per month, as well as monthly LNAPL gauging and quarterly LNAPL recovery. Groundwater monitoring is performed on a semiannual basis.
Contact Information
Jalyn Buckley | Environmental Management Specialist | [email protected]
Additional Resources
Visit Ecology’s Terminal 30 Cleanup Site page for more information.
