The Washington State Department of Ecology announced Thursday (Dec. 12) that it is extending the period for public comments at the former Lora Lake Apartments for another month, accepting feedback until 5 p.m. Jan. 15, 2014.
As we previously reported:
In the 1940s and 1950s, the site was used for cleaning barrels that had contained chemicals. From about 1960 to 1981, the site was used for auto wrecking. A developer purchased the site during the 1980s, and in 1987 built the Lora Lake Apartments. In1998, the Port of Seattle (Port) bought the site, part of which was required for Sea-Tac Airport’s Third Runway Protection Zone, where residences are prohibited. Six of the apartment buildings were within the Runway Protection Zone. These buildings were demolished in 2007. Sixteen buildings remain and are scheduled for demolition this summer. The portion of the site that was not required for the Runway Protection Zone is slated to be redeveloped.
Former activities at the site released hazardous chemicals into the environment including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum products, pentachlorophenol, dioxin, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane and arsenic. In June 2009, Ecology and the Port entered into the Agreed Order, under which the Port agrees to conduct a Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study (RI/FS). The Remedial Investigation will identify the nature and extent of contamination associated with former operations at the site. The Feasibility Study will assess alternative means of cleaning up the contamination. A Work Plan will be prepared describing the investigations and engineering assessments that will be performed. When the work is complete, the Port will prepare a report presenting the results of the RI/FS.
As many of our Readers may recall, despite much protest, residents were forced to move out of the apartments in 2007 as part of Sea-Tac Airport’s third runway project; read our extensive previous coverage here.
To comment, write or email David South, Ecology site manager, 3190 160th Ave. SE, Bellevue WA 98008; or david.south@ecy.wa.gov.
For more information:
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