On October 14, the Port Commission authorized a public solicitation for a firm to lead the remedial design for the cleanup of the East Waterway, a key next step in translating the Record of Decision from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into an actionable cleanup plan.
This follows a September 9 Commission authorization that directed the Port of Seattle’s executive director to enter into an Administrative Settlement and Order on Consent (“Order”) with the EPA and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with King County and the City of Seattle to complete the remedial design. Together, the Order, MOA, and bid solicitation reflect a shared commitment to restoring the river and protecting adjacent communities — helping to create a healthier environment and a more resilient working waterfront for future generations.
The East Waterway is an “operable unit” of the Harbor Island Superfund Site and is part of a long-running, federally directed cleanup effort with the Port, the City of Seattle, and King County working together under EPA oversight. Over the past several decades, five of the six Harbor Island operable units have been completed, addressing contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment from historical industrial activity.
The East Waterway is the last and most complex operable unit, and its cleanup will remove sediments that are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, dioxins/furans, mercury, and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs) — pollutants that pose risks to people, fish, and the broader ecosystem.
“This is a significant moment in a long-term effort to restore the health of the Duwamish River and the communities that depend on it,” said Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “We are committed to transparency and collaboration every step of the way. This milestone is another element of the Port’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship. By planning ahead and investing now, we’re ensuring that future cleanups can move forward responsibly and predictably, while continuing to protect public health, habitat, and the working waterfront.”
The Duwamish River is ecologically significant estuarine habitat vital to juvenile salmon, shellfish, and other marine life, and it plays a key role in the health of Puget Sound. It also holds cultural and treaty-protected importance for local Tribes, who have stewarded and fished these waters since time immemorial and continue to rely on them for fishing and other traditional practices.
The EPA continues to oversee the East Waterway cleanup to ensure that it will meet federal and state standards for environmental protection and public health. While the Port is highlighting its recent milestones, the cleanup remains a shared responsibility among the three partner agencies.
For more information about the East Waterway Cleanup, visit the East Waterway Cleanup website or the Harbor Island and East Waterway Superfund Cleanup project page on the Port's website.
Contact
Katherine Fountain | Senior Media Officer
(206) 787-3071 | [email protected]
