(Wash. Dept. of Ecology photo)
The state Department of Ecology hopes cleanup work on the Custom Plywood Mill site, near 34th St and V Ave. will start early this summer, possibly as early as June. But, a lack of state funds may slow things down.
The cleanup action will be split in two, with the upland 6 acres set for the first work, to be followed by 34 acres of in-water cleanup.
Sanda Caldwell, Ecology's lead for the Puget Sound Initiative work in Fidalgo Bay, said the upload cost may around $6 million and the in-water cleanup may cost $10-15 million, well over the value of the property.
Caldwell said, "Hopefully we will find the funds" to get these under way. If not, she said, "Our work this spring will have the projects ready when funds are available."
A sawmill and wood-box factory, and then a plywood mill, operated on the site for almost a century. Mill features included a hog-fuel boiler, drum storage tank area, transformer yard, above-ground storage tanks containing fuel oil, gasoline, diesel and/or propane, phenolic formaldehyde resin and caustic storage tanks (both used in making plywood glue), a machine shop, a metal shop, and an area for spraying paint and oil.
Soil samples collected during past investigations showed elevated levels of petroleum (gasoline, diesel fuel, and oil), arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and PCBs. Contamination also has been detected in marine sediments and groundwater.
The derelict tug Enchantress was removed from the site a little more than 2 years ago.
Caldwell said Ecology is planning a public meeting on their plans next month here in Anacortes, but no date or location has been set yet.