The Port of Seattle announced that it will start sampling and testing stormwater from the former Lora Lake Apartment complex in Burien this winter as part of a legal agreement with the Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology is seeking public comment on this plan through Wednesday, Dec. 23rd, and residents interested in reviewing the proposal should click here.

The project, called an “Interim Action,” is part of the work the Port is required to perform to study contamination at the site, which housed a barrel-cleaning company in the 1940s and 50s and an auto-wrecking facility from roughly 1960 to 1981.

A 22-building apartment complex was built in 1987. The Port, which owns Sea-Tac Airport nearby, bought the property in 1998 and demolished six buildings within the airport’s Third Runway protection zone in 2007.

At one time, the 234 Lora Lake Apartments were affordable housing.

The remainder of the buildings were demolished just recently.

Environmental samples taken in preparation for that demolition showed higher than expected levels of contaminants from the pre-apartment complex activities at the site. Pollutants associated with the site’s former activities include petroleum products, dioxin, solvents and other contaminants.

The Port demolished only above-ground structures, and took measures – under Ecology oversight – to not disturb potentially contaminated soil.

Port consultants will collect stormwater samples during rainstorms, with a plan to collect sampls during up to 10 storms. The information will help Ecology determine whether the site requires special or additional stormwater controls or treatment. Polluted runoff – stormwater – is the leading threat to water quality in the state’s urban areas.

As we reported in August, the Port of Seattle wants to develop facilities for airport-compatible activities there, such as air cargo, food service and warehouses, and on other property it owns within Burien’s Northeast Planning Area north of the airport.

But the now-vacant lot is just inside the Burien city limits and several city council members hope this location will anchor economic development in the Northeast Planning Area that will generate additional sales tax and other revenue for the city. Possible land uses include an auto mall and a business park.

City Manager Mike Martin said recently that an interchange at the location, at 15001 Des Moines Memorial Drive, would increase the value of the Lora Lake site for business development.

It is also available for review at the Burien Public Library (400 SW 152nd St., 206-243-3490), as well as the Department of Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue – by appointment (425-649-7190 – 3190 160th Ave. SE).

A fact sheet on Lora Lake Apartments site is available at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0909175.pdf.

For technical questions or to comment on the plan, please contact David South, Ecology Site Manager, 425-649-7200; e-mail dsou461@ecy.wa.gov.

The Department of Ecology and the Port of Seattle on Thursday (July 2nd) reached an agreement on doing a study and subsequent contamination cleanup at the unoccupied Lora Lake apartment complex in Burien.

The Port-owned property, located at 15001 Des Moines Memorial Drive, once housed a barrel-cleaning company in the 1940s and 50s and an auto-wrecking facility from roughly 1960 to 1981. A 22-building apartment complex was built in 1987, then in 2007 the remaining units were vacated before becoming a rallying point for affordable housing and the prevention of homelessness, with legislators and community activists bearing down on Burien.

The Port, which owns Sea-Tac Airport nearby, bought the property in 1998 and demolished six buildings within the airport’s Third Runway protection zone in 2007.

Environmental samples taken in preparation for that demolition showed higher than expected levels of contaminants from the pre-apartment complex activities at the site.  The legal agreement, known as an Agreed Order, lays out a process under which the Port will evaluate the nature and extent of contamination at the site and assess cleanup options.

Pollutants associated with the site’s former activities include petroleum products, dioxin, solvents and other contaminants.

The Port, meanwhile, plans to demolish the remaining 16 structures on the property because they claim that vacant buildings pose public safety hazards from arson, accidental fires and vandalism. Only above-ground portions will be demolished, and the Port will take measures – under Ecology oversight – to not disturb potentially contaminated soil.

The Department of Ecology will be hosting a public meeting about the site and the cleanup at 7pm on Thursday, July 23rd at the Highline School District’s Educational Resource and Administration Center, located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW. The Lora Lake agreement will be available for public comment through Aug. 10th.

The Agreed Order is available for public review at:

• http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/loraLakesAps/loraLakesAps_hp.html
• Burien Public Library 400 SW 152nd St., 206-243-3490
• Dept. of Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue – by appointment, 425-649-7190 – 3190 160th Ave. SE.

For technical questions or to comment on the plan, please contact David South, Ecology Site Manager, 425-649-7200; e-mail dsou461@ecy.wa.gov.  A fact sheet on Lora Lake Apartments site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0909175.pdf.