A Perspective on Two Decades of Cleanup Efforts in Commencement Bay

From the initial Superfund listing in 1983 through completion of final dredging and capping efforts expected to occur by 2005 — this paper surveys the author's perspective of two decades of cleanup efforts in Commencement Bay. When construction, is completed almost three million cubic yards of dredged material will be addressed, directly aiding redevelopment. Capping and monitored natural recovery will also be employed to improve environmental conditions. Costs are projected to exceed two hundred million dollars for source control actions and sediment cleanup. Key motivators in the process are offered that are making the cleanup a success for a wide range of stakeholders. Obstacles and opportunities in the cleanup process are discussed along with solutions that keep the process moving. A reflection on cleanup efforts is provided in light of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) emerging national policy for dealing with contaminated sediments. Also, a hindsight view of the cleanup effort is offered. Did the cleanup really need to take twenty years?