PORT HADLOCK DETACHMENT (USNAVY) WASHINGTON EPA ID# WA4170090001

EPA Region 10 Jefferson County Indian Island 6th Congressional District Other Names: NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE ENGINEERING STATION, INDIAN ISLAND DEPOT, USNAVY - NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE ENG STA, PORT HADLOCK DETACHMENT (USNAVY)

Last Update: May, 2010

Site Description

The Port Hadlock Detachment (US NAVY) site is on Indian Island, a 2,700-acre island southeast of Port Townsend, Washington. The Navy purchased the island in 1939, and uses it for munitions storage and handling. Potential sources of hazardous substances include municipal and industrial landfills, drum and container storage areas, above and below ground storage tanks, burn pits, and disposal pits. Disposal activities at several site locations resulted in soil, groundwater, sediment, and shellfish contamination. The contaminants are ordnance compounds, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides.

No private residences are on the island; however, there are a limited number of military residences. A public highway connects the Olympic Peninsula with Indian Island and Marrowstone Island, which has a community of about 250 residences. Groundwater on the island is not currently used for drinking or other domestic purposes. Commercial and recreational harvesting of shellfish and other aquatic organisms occurs on island beaches and in coastal waters surrounding the island. Although most of the island is restricted, civilian boaters occasionally enter along beaches to collect clams. Native Americans have treaty rights to collect shellfish in this area. Fort Flagler State Park is a few hundred feet from the north end of the island. A variety of marine species use off-shore waters around the island for spawning, nursing, and feeding. The island supports diverse wildlife populations, including the bald eagle.


Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through federal actions.

NPL Listing History	Dates
Proposed Date:	06/23/1993
Removed Date:
Withdrawal Date:
Final Date:	05/31/1994
Deleted Date:	06/14/2005

Threats and Contaminants

Media Affected: Groundwater, Soil, Sediments, and Shellfish
Shellfish next to a former landfill contain elevated levels of heavy metals and pesticides. Eating these shellfish may cause adverse health effects.


Cleanup Progress

The U. S. Navy is doing all work at this site. In 1977, cleanup at a former landfill in a former tidal lagoon was completed, including digging up beach debris, and building a landfill erosion protection system and landfill cover. The cover was designed to prevent rain and other precipitation from contacting landfill contents. The cleanup also included digging up ordnance debris and contaminated soils from two areas, and removing contaminated soils and debris from several other areas around the base. The Navy discovered another possibly contaminated area at the base, a former ordnance pier, however, further investigation revealed that there was no problem. Institutional controls have been implemented and the site was deleted from the NPL in June, 2005.


Regional Contacts

SITE MANAGER(S):	Nancy Harney
E-MAIL ADDRESS:	harney.nancy@epa.gov
PHONE NUMBER:	206-553-6635
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR:
E-MAIL ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER:

Information pertaining to this site is housed at the following location(s):
Engineering Field Activity Northwest (Administrative Record)
Naval Facilities Engineering Command
19917 7th Avenue NE
Poulsbo, Washington 98370-7570
(360) 396-0002

Port Hadlock Library (Selected Documents)
Ness Corner Rd. and Cedar Avenue
Port Hadlock, WA 98339