Input sought on Occidental cleanup in Tacoma

Report details contamination at former industrial site

TACOMA – A new report detailing contamination and health concerns at the former Occidental Chemical Corporation site in the Tacoma tide flats will be used to evaluate potential cleanup strategies.

The Occidental site, at 605 Alexander Ave. in Tacoma, was used for industrial activities for decades and became contaminated with chlorine and chlorinated solvents, caustic soda, ammonia, calcium chloride and muriatic acid. Operations at the site stopped in 2002 and the remaining buildings were demolished. There have been several previous cleanups at the site, but a significant level of contamination remains.

The Washington Department of Ecology, which is overseeing the cleanup work, is seeking public comments on the report through Dec. 19, and will hold an initial public informational meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Public input on the report will be used in a 2016 feasibility study that will determine the final cleanup plan for the site.

Information, comments, public meeting

The study reports and related material are available at:

• Ecology’s website
• Ecology’s Southwest Regional Office, 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey; by appointment:  360-407-6365
• Citizens for a Healthy Bay, 535 Dock St., Suite 213, Tacoma; 253-383-2429
• Mary Rose Kobetich Library, 212 Browns Point Blvd. NE, Tacoma

The Oct. 28 public informational meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave. NE, Tacoma.

Written comments may be submitted to Kerry Graber, site manager, at:

 kerry.graber@ecy.wa.gov
Department of Ecology, Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program - SWRO, P.O. Box 47775, Olympia WA 98504-7775