Marta Murvosh has this article in the Anacortes American:
ANACORTES — The Port of Anacortes has struck a deal with Shell Oil Products to investigate the next contaminated site on port property, where petroleum tanks for a fuel distribution center stood for roughly 50 years.
Boring to test soil and groundwater for toxins could start in 12 to 18 months at the site on the northwest corner of the intersection of Q Avenue and 13th Street.
Although some testing has been done there, a more thorough investigation is needed to determine the extent of cleanup needed, said Bob Elsner, port director of planning projects and environmental affairs.
Earlier this month, the port and the oil company agreed to split the cost to test at the former site of six tanks, ranging in size from 4,000 to 25,000 gallons.
The estimated cost of the testing is $300,000 to $400,000. Shell also will pay $60,000 for previous tests.
From the 1920s to the late 1970s, petroleum products were brought to Fidalgo Island by barge and pumped through a pipeline to the tanks, Elsner said. From there, gasoline, diesel and heavy oil was distributed by truck.
The tanks were removed in the 1980s, and in 1987, some contaminated earth was removed. Soil and groundwater testing in 2005 indicated that gasoline, diesel and heavy oil contamination remained at the site, according to the state Department of Ecology.
“We know it’s there,” Elsner said. “We need to do some work on finding out where the perimeter and borders are.”
