Sediment Cleanup and Habitat Restoration

Client: Vigor Shipyards
Project strategy and implementation for the Harbor Island Superfund Site sediment cleanup including dredging, stormwater upgrades, and NRD habitat restoration.

Overview of Floyd|Snider Contributions

Lead consultant for 20-years—multiple successes
Source control, sediment remediation, and habitat restoration
Strategy, design, permitting, construction management, and monitoring
Superfund completion and Natural Resource Damage settlement
Strategic regulatory and tribal negotiations

Project Summary

Vigor Shipyards (formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation; Todd Shipyards) has operated on Harbor Island in Seattle’s Elliott Bay since the early 1900s.

The shipyard is one of the largest private shipyards in the nation. A total of 32 acres of marine sediments were contaminated from historical shipyard operations and named an Operable Unit of the Harbor Island Superfund Site. In 2005, following the completion of source control actions, Vigor implemented a comprehensive remedial action for sediments, including dredging 200,000 cubic yards for upland disposal and under-pier capping. To settle Natural Resource Damage liabilities, Vigor entered into an agreement with federal agencies and tribes to demolish shipyard infrastructure and construct over 3 acres of new aquatic habitat, including salt marsh and tideflat areas, to support juvenile salmon health at a key location in the Duwamish River estuary.  Habitat construction was completed in 2023 and Vigor will permanently maintain the habitat features.

Vigor Shipyards (formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation; Todd Shipyards) has operated on Harbor Island in Seattle’s Elliott Bay since the early 1900s. The shipyard is one of the largest private shipyards in the nation. A total of 32 acres of marine sediments were contaminated from historical shipyard operations and named an Operable Unit of the Harbor Island Superfund Site. In 2005, following the completion of source control actions, Vigor implemented a comprehensive remedial action for sediments, including dredging 200,000 cubic yards for upland disposal and under-pier capping. To settle Natural Resource Damage liabilities, Vigor entered into an agreement with federal agencies and tribes to demolish shipyard infrastructure and construct over 3 acres of new aquatic habitat, including salt marsh and tideflat areas, to support juvenile salmon health at a key location in the Duwamish River estuary.  Habitat construction was completed in 2023 and Vigor will permanently maintain the habitat features.

Our Approach

Floyd|Snider has served as lead consultant to Vigor since 2000, managing a multidisciplinary team.

Floyd|Snider services have included project strategy, environmental characterization, source control, remedial design, habitat design, regulatory negotiation, all permitting and agency approvals, construction management, and post-construction monitoring. Floyd|Snider has worked very closely with shipyard management and operational staff to design and implement solutions that improve shipyard infrastructure and minimize impact to shipyard operations.

Work conducted between 2004 and 2006 included demolition of two major pier structures, construction of a new vessel launch facility, stormwater upgrades throughout the shipyard, and sediment cleanup. Habitat restoration work conducted between 2021 and 2023 included demolition, pier reconfiguration, dredging, embankment construction for the habitat, stormwater improvements, earthwork, and planting. The projects were constructed using customized “cost plus incentive fee” contracts that incentivized high quality and cost savings, which Floyd|Snider managed as the owner’s representative. The habitat restoration is precedent-setting, as one of the first settlements within the Duwamish River system, located at the mouth of the river, with permanent industrial stewardship.

Project Milestones:

2003. Source control complete including new stormwater systems
2006. Superfund sediment remediation complete
2017. Natural Resource Damage settlement negotiated
2023. Habitat restoration complete

Floyd|Snider has served as lead consultant to Vigor since 2000, managing a multidisciplinary team. Floyd|Snider services have included project strategy, environmental characterization, source control, remedial design, habitat design, regulatory negotiation, all permitting and agency approvals, construction management, and post-construction monitoring. Floyd|Snider has worked very closely with shipyard management and operational staff to design and implement solutions that improve shipyard infrastructure and minimize impact to shipyard operations.

Work conducted between 2004 and 2006 included demolition of two major pier structures, construction of a new vessel launch facility, stormwater upgrades throughout the shipyard, and sediment cleanup. Habitat restoration work conducted between 2021 and 2023 included demolition, pier reconfiguration, dredging, embankment construction for the habitat, stormwater improvements, earthwork, and planting. The projects were constructed using customized “cost plus incentive fee” contracts that incentivized high quality and cost savings, which Floyd|Snider managed as the owner’s representative. The habitat restoration is precedent-setting, as one of the first settlements within the Duwamish River system, located at the mouth of the river, with permanent industrial stewardship.

Project Milestones:

2003. Source control complete including new stormwater systems
2006. Superfund sediment remediation complete
2017. Natural Resource Damage settlement negotiated
2023. Habitat restoration complete

Project Team

Floyd|Snider
KPFF Consulting Engineers
J.A. Brennan Associates
PanGeo
Confluence Environmental
Quotes decorative image

Vigor Shipyards, Inc. (formerly known as Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation) has a 20-year relationship with Floyd|Snider as they managed the successful remediation efforts at the Harbor Island Superfund Site in Seattle. All the Floyd|Snider folks we worked with during the lengthy clean-up were/are professional, responsive and excellent team players. Their estimating, budgeting and project management continually hit the mark, which allowed Vigor management to forecast accurately.

Michael G. Marsh, Of Counsel, Vigor Shipyards, Inc.
Quotes decorative image

With Kate & Scott as leads, Floyd|Snider and KPFF have worked seamlessly to provide us with exceptional service for our $35 million integrated infrastructure and habitat restoration project at our active facility.  Throughout all phases of design, agency & tribal negotiation, permitting, and construction, they have maintained schedule and navigated changed conditions with an excellent focus on quality and efficiency.

John Cook, Project Manager, Vigor Shipyards
1
2