Bronte Wells
The Duwamish River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States, with the last five miles towards Elliott Bay being declared a Superfund Site by the EPA in 2001. The river has served as Seattle's major industrial corridor since the early 1900s, resulting in the contamination of its sediments with toxic chemicals from various sources, including stormwater runoff, wastewater, and industrial practices. The EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology are leading the cleanup efforts, with the support of local communities and organisations like the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG). The sources of pollution in the Duwamish River are diverse and range from industrial activity to runoff from residential areas, posing risks to both human health and the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| River | Duwamish River |
| River segment | The last five miles of the river towards Elliott Bay |
| Pollution sources | Stormwater runoff, wastewater, industrial practices, legacy contamination, toxic chemicals in the soil and groundwater, toxic metals, PCBs, arsenic, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), dioxins, furans, metals, phthalates |
| Cleanup efforts | Superfund Site declared by EPA in 2001, Remedial Investigation (RI), Early Action Areas (EAAs), EPA and Ecology oversight, Final Cleanup Plan, Enhanced Natural Recovery, Monitored Natural Recovery, Source Control, Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), Administrative Order on Consent |
| Responsible parties | Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, Boeing Company, Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Jorgensen Forge (EMJ) |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial activity and runoff from urban areas
The Duwamish River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The last five miles of the river towards Elliott Bay were declared a Superfund Site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001. The EPA categorises Superfund Sites as the nation's most toxic locations that require identification and cleanup.
The Duwamish River flows through Seattle's industrial core and has served as the city's major industrial corridor since the early 1900s. Over a century of industrial activity and urbanisation have contaminated the river sediments with toxic chemicals. These contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), dioxins, furans, metals, and phthalates.
Industrial facilities, such as the Jorgensen Forge (EMJ) steel and aluminium forging and distribution facility located on the banks of the Lower Duwamish Waterway, have contributed significantly to the river's pollution. Toxic metals and PCBs have been detected in the riverbanks and sediments adjacent to the EMJ facility, posing potential health and environmental risks. While some remediation efforts have been undertaken by the company, pollution remains present in the area.
Urban runoff is another significant source of pollution in the Duwamish River. Contaminants from soil and groundwater in the surrounding urban areas can enter the river through stormwater runoff. Ecology, in collaboration with the EPA, has identified 24 source control areas to manage and reduce pollution from various sources. The short-term goal is to control these sources effectively to enable in-waterway cleanup, while the long-term goal is to minimise recontamination and restore the river's water quality.
The cleanup of the Duwamish River is a complex and collaborative effort involving various organisations. The EPA leads the sediment contamination cleanup, while Ecology focuses on controlling sources of pollution. The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), comprising the City of Seattle, King County, and the Boeing Company, works closely with the EPA to implement cleanup plans, engage the community, and address contamination levels.
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Toxic chemicals in the soil and groundwater
The Duwamish River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The last five miles of the river towards Elliott Bay have been identified as the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) Superfund Site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001. The EPA and Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) are overseeing the cleanup of this site.
The river has served as Seattle's major industrial corridor since the early 1900s, causing the Waterway's sediments to be contaminated with toxic chemicals from various sources, including stormwater runoff, wastewater, and industrial practices. Toxic chemicals in the soil and groundwater from the surrounding area can find their way into the river through storm runoff and other routes, such as industrial activity and runoff from urban and residential areas.
The contaminants in the soil and groundwater include PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), arsenic, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), dioxins, furans, metals, and phthalates. These toxic chemicals pose a risk to human health and the environment. For example, most of the human health risks come from exposure to PCBs, which can be found in LDW sediment, fish, and shellfish.
Ecology has taken the lead in controlling sources of chemical pollution from entering the Duwamish River. They have defined 24 source control areas and are partnering with the EPA to identify sources of pollution in the Green-Duwamish watershed and strategies to reduce those sources. The EPA and Ecology have also joined a legal agreement with the City of Seattle, King County, the Port of Seattle, and The Boeing Company to begin work in the waterway and upland areas.
The LDW Group (LDWG) is a collaboration between the City of Seattle, King County, and the Boeing Company, who are working with the EPA to implement cleanup plans, educate the community, and involve them in the process. Together, these organizations aim to reduce the unacceptable risks that toxic chemicals in the soil and groundwater pose to human health and the environment.
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Stormwater runoff
The impact of stormwater runoff on the Duwamish River is exacerbated by the nature of the surrounding area. The river flows through a heavily industrialized and urbanized region, with a variety of industrial facilities and businesses located along its banks. Decades of industrial activity and urban development have resulted in contaminated soil and groundwater in the area. As a result, when stormwater runoff occurs, it mobilizes and transports these contaminants, carrying them into the river and its sediments.
To address the issue of stormwater runoff, Ecology, in collaboration with the EPA, has implemented a comprehensive source control program. This involves identifying and inspecting businesses and industrial facilities that may be contributing to stormwater pollution. By regulating and reducing the discharge of pollutants from these sources, Ecology aims to minimize the impact of stormwater runoff on the river. Additionally, the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff. These practices can include the use of retention ponds, permeable pavements, and stormwater treatment systems, which help to capture and treat stormwater before it enters the river.
The efforts of Ecology and the EPA have yielded significant progress in controlling sources of pollution, including stormwater runoff. In 2023, they recommended that the EPA proceed with cleanup efforts at 28 out of 29 active sediment cleanup locations in the Upper Reach of the LDW. This collaborative work between Ecology and the EPA, along with the involvement of local communities and organizations, is crucial in restoring the health of the Duwamish River and ensuring the safety of its ecosystems and surrounding residents.
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Jorgensen Forge (EMJ) steel and aluminium facility
Jorgensen Forge (EMJ), a steel and aluminium forging and distribution facility, is located on the banks of the Lower Duwamish River, just south of the 14th Ave Street Bridge and upstream of Boeing. The site, which covers approximately 21.6 acres, is bordered to the north by the Boeing Plant 2 cleanup site and to the south by the Boeing Isaacson property. The Lower Duwamish River is a Superfund Site, meaning it is eligible for a special federal cleanup program due to the severity of its contamination.
The Jorgensen Forge site has been a source of pollution for the river, with contamination resulting from heavy industrial use since the 1940s, as well as contaminated groundwater migrating onto the property from off-site sources. Contaminants of concern in the soil include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), halogenated volatile organic compounds (HVOCs), and metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead. In the groundwater, contaminants include petroleum hydrocarbons, VOCs, HVOCs, and metals.
In 2014 and 2015, the riverbanks and sediments next to the facility were cleaned up under an EPA Early Action cleanup order. However, tests showed that the company left some pollution behind, and EPA fined Jorgensen Forge for not completing the work correctly. The Earle M. Jorgensen company removed some of the contaminated riverbanks and sediments in 2014, but they too left some pollution in place. An Agreed Order signed in 2007 required Jorgensen Forge Corporation to investigate sources of contamination moving from the site into the Lower Duwamish Waterway. A new plan is being developed to finish the cleanup, and the Washington Department of Ecology is leading the cleanup of the facility located above the riverbank, in the upland area.
The overall goal of the cleanup efforts in the Lower Duwamish Waterway is to minimize recontamination of the river sediment and restore water quality. This involves finding and controlling sources of pollution, such as through business inspections, controlling stormwater runoff, education, and cleanup of contaminated sites. The EPA and Ecology are working together to improve the health of the waterway, and their actions are expected to remove over 90% of the contamination.
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The Boeing Company
The Duwamish River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) is a five-mile segment of the river that flows through Seattle's industrial core. In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the LDW a Superfund site, making it eligible for a federal cleanup program.
The river has a long history of supporting industry, with Boeing building thousands of World War II airplanes on its shores. Boeing Plant 2, a 1.7-million-square-foot facility, was demolished in 2011 to make way for cleanup and restoration efforts. Boeing has been identified as one of the dozens of companies responsible for polluting the river.
Boeing has demonstrated its commitment to the health of the LDW and surrounding communities by investing in cleanup activities and habitat restoration. The company has been a member of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), alongside the City of Seattle and King County, and has taken the lead in setting high standards for restoration. Boeing has removed contaminated sediment from nearly one mile of the riverfront, equivalent to 4,000 railcars, and replaced it with clean sand. The company has also transformed over half a mile of industrial waterfront back into a natural shoreline, planted with over 170,000 native plants.
Boeing's efforts have reduced polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the river by approximately half. The company has also committed to continuing maintenance and care for the restored site for the next 30 years and has agreed to share its restoration expertise with others. Boeing estimates that it has spent more than $150 million on the entire project, including building demolition, sediment cleanup, and activities under the EPA's oversight.
The LDWG has conducted a Remedial Investigation (RI) to identify the most contaminated areas and select them for early cleanups, called Early Action Areas (EAAs). The EPA and Ecology are overseeing the cleanup of the LDW, with Ecology taking the lead in controlling sources of pollution to the river. The EPA will move forward with the phased cleanup of the remaining contaminated areas, with the goal of achieving a 90% reduction in waterway pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duwamish River has served as Seattle's major industrial corridor since the early 1900s, and the river sediments have been contaminated with toxic chemicals from stormwater runoff, wastewater, and industrial practices.
The contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), dioxins, furans, and toxic metals.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working together to clean up the contaminated sediments and control sources of recontamination. The EPA is leading the cleanup efforts with support from Ecology.
The EPA and Ecology have made solid progress in controlling sources of pollution. In 2024, sediment cleanup began in the upper reach of the river. The long-term goal is to minimize recontamination and restore water quality.
The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) is a collaboration between the City of Seattle, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the Boeing Company. They work together with the EPA to study contamination levels, design and implement cleanup plans, and involve the community in the process.
