Representatives of the state Department of Ecology, the Attorney General’s Office, the Port and Kimberly-Clark will sign a Consent Decree during Friday's ceremony. The legal agreement outlines cleanup work, responsibilities and funding.
The clean-up effort is the third of 5 environmental clean-up projects under the Port’s Focus Fidalgo framework, which coordinates clean-up, habitat restoration, and redevelopment efforts.
The Port’s cleanup plans include moving much of the soil on the site to Pier 2 for cleansing, then moving the clean soil back to the site. The Port has bowed to pressure from residents near Pier 2 and decided to move in a huge tent to control any noise and air pollution that the soil cleansing operation might create.
The Port has also revealed plans to temporarily move the building at Seafarers Park to clean under it, then move it back. Port staffer Bob Elsner said the building happens to be right on top of the most-contaminated area of the cleanup site.
The cleanup of the former Scott Paper mill site is the largest single cleanup effort to date planned under the Puget Sound Initiative. The initiative is a comprehensive effort by local, tribal, state and federal governments, business, agricultural and environmental communities, scientists, and the public to restore and protect the Sound.
A lumber mill started operating at the site in 1890. In 1925, a pulp mill operation was added. In 1940, Scott Paper Co. bought the mills. The company closed the lumber mill in 1955 and the pulp mill in 1978. Scott sold the mill properties in 1979. In 1995, Scott merged with Kimberly-Clark.
The Port is hosting the groundbreaking ceremony and barbeque at Seafarers Memorial Park at 11:30am Friday. Port staffers will on hand to man the grill and answer questions.