PORT ANGELES — Excavation of about 7,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soils at the waterfront site of Rayonier Inc.’s former mill began this week and could last up to two weeks.
The soils include mostly petroleum contamination from a fuel tank on the west side of the property toward the base of bluff, and one at the old wood mill, Dana Dolloff, Rayonier environmental affairs director said.
The Port Angeles Planning Commission granted a shoreline substantial development permit in June to Rayonier to excavate and transport the contaminated soil from its mill site at 700 N. Ennis St.
It is one of several “interim actions” the company has done at the cleanup site this decade, Dolloff said.
The soil contains mostly hydraulic oil and other contaminants that are suitable to go to city landfill, he said.
The soil is being taken to the Port Angeles Landfill at the end of West 18th Street.