Wyckoff Eagle Harbor Generational Remedy Evaluation

Client: Washington State Department of Ecology
Oversight and facilitation of a national expert panel workshop and agency negotiations throughout design of a final remedy at a superfund site with no viable responsible parties.

Overview of Floyd|Snider Contributions

Alternative Generational Remedy evaluation
Formation and facilitation of national expert panel workshop
Facilitation of negotiations between Ecology and USEPA achieving USEPA commitment to adjusted remedy—protective for future generations

Project Summary

The Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site is a former wood-treating facility located on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Within the Former Process Area on this site, it is estimated that over 1.2 million gallons of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) is present in the subsurface and poses a significant threat to the adjacent waters of central Puget Sound. The site has no viable responsible parties and is, therefore, the responsibility of the federal and state governments to clean up. The USEPA originally proposed a containment remedy for the site, which would require Ecology to maintain barriers and pump contaminated groundwater from the center of the site in perpetuity, to maintain an inward gradient. Ecology would not accept this remedy, due to long-term obligation and significant risk. The state performed a parallel remedial evaluation to define remedial action alternatives to either remove the contamination or reduce its mobility—to be protective for future generations.

The Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site is a former wood-treating facility located on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Within the Former Process Area on this site, it is estimated that over 1.2 million gallons of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) is present in the subsurface and poses a significant threat to the adjacent waters of central Puget Sound. The site has no viable responsible parties and is, therefore, the responsibility of the federal and state governments to clean up. The USEPA originally proposed a containment remedy for the site, which would require Ecology to maintain barriers and pump contaminated groundwater from the center of the site in perpetuity, to maintain an inward gradient. Ecology would not accept this remedy, due to long-term obligation and significant risk. The state performed a parallel remedial evaluation to define remedial action alternatives to either remove the contamination or reduce its mobility—to be protective for future generations.

Our Approach

Floyd|Snider was hired by Ecology to lead the Wyckoff Eagle Harbor Generational Remedy Evaluation, to examine source removal or mobility reduction remedial alternatives for Wyckoff soil and groundwater that would be protective for multiple generations with little active management.

As part of this evaluation process, Floyd|Snider managed the formation of a national expert panel; facilitated and documented a 3-day workshop with the expert panel, local steering committee, and public involvement; and produced an alternative evaluation document defining three alternative Generational Remedy concepts. Subsequently, Floyd|Snider facilitated negotiations between Ecology and USEPA resulting in an adjusted USEPA remedy meeting Ecology’s goals, focusing on solidification of the subsurface contamination. Floyd|Snider also facilitated a robust Citizen’s Interest Group that provided key stakeholder and public input throughout the process, and provided technical review of USEPA documents. Floyd|Snider continues to facilitate quarterly meetings with Ecology and USEPA during design of the adjusted final remedy for soil and groundwater and evaluation of remedial alternatives for sediments.

Project Milestones:

2000. Original USEPA Record of Decision for containment remedy
2009–2010. Generational remedy evaluation
2016. USEPA proposed plan for additional cleanup actions
2018–2019. Record of Decision amendments for adjusted remedy

Floyd|Snider was hired by Ecology to lead the Wyckoff Eagle Harbor Generational Remedy Evaluation, to examine source removal or mobility reduction remedial alternatives for Wyckoff soil and groundwater that would be protective for multiple generations with little active management. As part of this evaluation process, Floyd|Snider managed the formation of a national expert panel; facilitated and documented a 3-day workshop with the expert panel, local steering committee, and public involvement; and produced an alternative evaluation document defining three alternative Generational Remedy concepts. Subsequently, Floyd|Snider facilitated negotiations between Ecology and USEPA resulting in an adjusted USEPA remedy meeting Ecology’s goals, focusing on solidification of the subsurface contamination. Floyd|Snider also facilitated a robust Citizen’s Interest Group that provided key stakeholder and public input throughout the process, and provided technical review of USEPA documents. Floyd|Snider continues to facilitate quarterly meetings with Ecology and USEPA during design of the adjusted final remedy for soil and groundwater and evaluation of remedial alternatives for sediments.

Project Milestones:

2000. Original USEPA Record of Decision for containment remedy
2009–2010. Generational remedy evaluation
2016. USEPA proposed plan for additional cleanup actions
2018–2019. Record of Decision amendments for adjusted remedy

Project Team

Floyd|Snider