A Collaborative EPA Time-Critical Sediment Removal Action

In consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP), the Port of Tacoma (the port) is removing approximately 37,463 cubic meters (m³; 49,000 cubic yards [CY]) of tributyltin-(TBT-) contaminated sediments as a superfund time-critical removal action underneath and at the face of Pier 4. Following completion of the cleanup, referred to as the “Phase 1 Removal Action,” the port plans to reconfigure and reconstruct Pier 4 to be in alignment with Pier 3 located on the Blair Waterway. The port initially entered into an agreed order on consent (AOC) with USEPA in June 2014 and conducted removal site evaluation characterization in July 2014. Project construction began in Spring 2015 and is scheduled to be completed in January 2016. The port’s project delivery team, and their environmental and engineering design consultants, worked collaboratively with USEPA to get to bid in less than 1 year and complete construction within 2 years of the USEPA removal site evaluation characterization event. This was possible due to integrated agency, port, and environmental and engineering design team involvement relative to several key technical items.