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Home My WebLink AboutC_Ecology Comments and City ResponseFrom: Sheldon, Kelli (ECY) <kesh461@ECY.WA.GOV> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 8:21 AM To: Jill Ding Cc: cwoodworth@geoengineers.com; Song, Jing (ECY); Barber, Eva (ECY) Subject: RE: ECY SEPA 202106270 - Renton Switchgear Building - Comments Jill, Thank you for the clarification. Kelli Sheldon (she/her) ERTS & SEPA Coordinator 15700 Dayton Ave N | Shoreline, WA 98133 Department of Ecology | Northwest Regional Office Desk: (206) 594-0014 | Email: kelli.sheldon@ecy.wa.gov NOTICE: This communication is a public record and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). From: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 8:14 AM To: Sheldon, Kelli (ECY) <kesh461@ECY.WA.GOV> Cc: cwoodworth@geoengineers.com; Song, Jing (ECY) <JISO461@ECY.WA.GOV>; Barber, Eva (ECY) <evba461@ECY.WA.GOV> Subject: RE: ECY SEPA 202106270 - Renton Switchgear Building - Comments THIS EMAIL ORIGINATED FROM OUTSIDE THE WASHINGTON STATE EMAIL SYSTEM - Take caution not to open attachments or links unless you know the sender AND were expecting the attachment or the link Kelli, Thank you for your comments, we have included them in the official file for consideration by the decision maker. I have also added you as a party of record for this project. Just to clarify the notice you commented on was a re-notice of this project to disclose a buffer determination. The original notice and comment period was issued October 27, 2021 with the comment period ending November 10, 2021. A SEPA Determination of Non-Significance was issued on December 6, 2020, with appeals due on December 20, 2020. CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Thanks, JILL DING, Senior Planner City of Renton | CED | [Planning/Building/Economic Development] Division 1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 Virtual Permit Center | Online Applications and Inspections (425) 430-6598 | jding@rentonwa.gov From: Sheldon, Kelli (ECY) <kesh461@ECY.WA.GOV> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 7:57 AM To: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: cwoodworth@geoengineers.com; Song, Jing (ECY) <JISO461@ECY.WA.GOV>; Barber, Eva (ECY) <evba461@ECY.WA.GOV> Subject: ECY SEPA 202106270 - Renton Switchgear Building - Comments Good Morning, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Renton Switchgear Building project (Lead Agency File No(s). PR21-000406/LUA21-000378). Ecology’s comments have been submitted via the online comment portal. I’ve also attached a copy for your reference. [ Statewide SEPA Register No. 202106270 ] Kind regards, Kelli Sheldon (she/her) ERTS & SEPA Coordinator 15700 Dayton Ave N | Shoreline, WA 98133 Department of Ecology | Northwest Regional Office Desk: (206) 594-0014 | Email: kelli.sheldon@ecy.wa.gov NOTICE: This communication is a public record and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. December 16, 2021 Jill Ding Community and Economic Development City of Renton 1055 South Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 Re: Renton Station Switchgear Building File# PR21-000406/LUA21-000378, Ecology SEPA# 202106270 Dear Jill Ding: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) notice of application utilizing the optional determination of nonsignificance (ODNS/NOA) process for the Renton Station Switchgear Building project. Based on review of the checklist associated with this project, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) has the following comments: Toxics Cleanup Program Jing Song, (425) 229-2565, jing.song@ecy.wa.gov Section B, Environmental Elements; Subsection 7, Environmental Health. The proposed SEPA project is located on a site listed on the MTCA Confirmed and Suspected Contaminated Sites List – Olympic Pipeline Co Renton Station site (cleanup site ID 2978, facility site ID 2400). Ecology appreciates the discussion in the current SEPA proposal that petroleum - impacted soil may be countered during excavation. The current SEPA proposal confirmed that encountered contaminated soil will be disposed offsite to an approved soil disposal facility. Based on the existing data currently available to Ecology, shallow groundwater in the proposed construction area is also contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Groundwater depths in the area are reportedly as shallow as 3 feet below ground surface. It is Ecology’s opinion that petroleum-impacted groundwater may be encountered during excavation. In addition, multiple monitoring wells and remediation wells, as well as remediation piping and aboveground compound are located within or near the proposed construction area. STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY Northwest Regional Office  PO Box 330316  Shoreline, Washington 98133-9716 (206) 594-0000 711 for Washington Relay Service  Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341 Jill Ding December 16, 2021 Page 2 Please add following information and mitigation measures in the checklist:  Hazardous waste operations worker training, health/safety plan, and site control requirements, per WAC 296-843.  Management of potential contaminated soil and groundwater encountered during excavations, including sampling, containment, and disposal at a pe rmitted facility.  Potential impacts of the construction project on ongoing contaminant remediation at the site, including procedures to prevent damage to site monitoring wells.  Please coordinate with the cleanup responsible party to minimize the impacts to current remediation. Toxics Cleanup Program Eva Barber, (360) 999-9593, eva.barber@ecy.wa.gov This proposed project is located in an area that may have been contaminated with heavy metals due to the air emissions originating from the old Asarco smelter in north Tacoma (visit Ecology’s Tacoma Smelter Plume map search tool: https://apps.wa.gov/ecy/dirtalert/). Soil contamination from the former Asarco smelter poses a risk to human health and the environment. Children are at especially high risk from direct exposure to contaminated soil. Construction workers, landscapers, gardeners, and others who work in the soils are also at risk. Washington State Department of Ecology recommends that the lead agency include the following as conditions of approval, prior to the issuance of any site development permits or the initiation of grading, filling, or clearing:  Sample the soil and analyze for arsenic and lead following the 2019 Tacoma Smelter Plume Guidance. The soil sampling results shall be sent to Ecology for review.  If lead or arsenic are found at concentrations above the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup levels (Chapter 173-340 WAC); the owners, potential buyers, construction workers, and others shall be notified of their occurrence. The MTCA cleanup level for arsenic is 20 parts per million (ppm) and lead is 250 ppm.  If lead, arsenic and/or other contaminants are found at concentrations above MTCA cleanup levels, the applicant shall: 1. Develop soil remediation plan and enter into the Voluntary Cleanup Program with Ecology. For more information on the Voluntary Cleanup Program, visit Ecology website at: https://ecology.wa.gov/Spills-Cleanup/Contamination- cleanup/Cleanup-process/Cleanup-options/Voluntary-cleanup-program. 2. Obtain an opinion letter from Ecology stating that the proposed soil remediation plan will likely result in no further action under MTCA. The Jill Ding December 16, 2021 Page 3 applicant shall provide to the local permitting agency the opinion letter from Ecology. 3. Prior to finalizing site development permits, provide to the local land use permitting agency “No Further Action” determination from Ecology indicating that the remediation plans were successfully implemented under MTCA.  If soils are found to be contaminated with arsenic, lead, or other contaminants, extra precautions shall be taken to avoid escaping dust, soil erosion, and water pollution during grading and site construction. Site design shall include protective measures to isolate or remove contaminated soils from public spaces, yards, and children’s play areas. Contaminated soils generated during site construction shall be managed and disposed of in accordance with state and local regulations, including the Solid Waste Handling Standards regulation (Chapter 173-350 WAC). For information about soil disposal contact the local health department in the jurisdiction where soils will be placed. The link below provides a fact sheet that explains more how the arsenic and lead clean -up levels were set and why Ecology sees that they are protective for human health: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1109095.html For assistance and information about Tacoma Smelter Plume and soils contamination, contact Eva Barber. Thank you for considering these comments from the Department of Ecology. If you have questions or would like to respond to these comments, please contact one of the commenters listed above. Sincerely, Kelli Sheldon SEPA Coordinator Sent by email: Jill Ding, jding@rentonwa.gov ecc: Carla Woodworth, GeoEngineers Jing Song, Ecology Eva Barber, Ecology