Asarco Ordered To Clean Up Everett Smelter Site

The Washington Department of Ecology has ordered Asarco, Inc., to clean up nearly 700 acres of land contaminated by its former smelter in Everett, Wash.

Asarco must clean up arsenic and other hazardous metals that contaminate soil at its former smelter site, plus surrounding areas in the northeastern part of the city contaminated by its emissions.  The company also must study how to clean up industrial and port areas along the Snohomish River.

During the 1990s, Asarco re-purchased homes built directly over the former smelter site, fenced off the area, and demolished the houses.  Soils in the fenced area contain up to 25,000 parts per million of arsenic, with isolated pockets of arsenic trioxide that contain up to 76 percent arsenic. About 600 houses and yards beyond the fenced area also need at least some cleanup.

Four years ago, Asarco filed a lawsuit challenging whether the company could be held liable for the cleanup. That lawsuit was dismissed by the state Supreme Court last month.

While the lawsuit was making its way through the courts, the state’s Department of Ecology began cleaning the most-contaminated occupied residences.

"We started cleaning the most-contaminated homes where people still live so the families could be safe in their homes," said David South, Ecology's site manager. "Now it's time for Asarco to step forward and eliminate the hazard for the rest of the community."

If Asarco refuses to comply with Ecology's cleanup order, the department will continue to clean up occupied homes as funding allows.  Asarco could be held liable for up to three times the amount of any costs incurred by Ecology and for civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day.

Ecology's order directs Asarco to begin cleanup work by April 30, 2003, and to complete the cleanup by 2009.

A public-comment period will last from April 10 through May 9.  The order is available at the Everett Public Library and at Ecology's Bellevue office, or may be viewed on Ecology's Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/sites.html.