In the early 1990s, Schnitzer Steel acquired General Metals of Tacoma with its deep-water terminal on the banks of the Hylebos Waterway. At the time, the company knew it was accepting a legacy – albeit a negative one.
In the decades prior to Schnitzer Steel’s ownership, the Hylebos Waterway had become contaminated from years of former industrial practices. However, the site’s existing operations and access to the Pacific Ocean showed potential. So as part of the purchase transaction, Schnitzer Steel agreed to the conditions of the Commencement Bay Superfund Cleanup.
Schnitzer Steel also made additional significant improvements to the site. In 1995, these efforts were recognized with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s second place national award for outstanding Storm Water Management Program in the Industrial Category – highlighting the "facility’s demonstrated innovative and cost-effective achievements for improving storm water quality.”
In 2003, Schnitzer Steel and Arkema, Inc., another local company involved with the Superfund listing, began managing a joint $50 million environmental cleanup project at the Head of the Hylebos Waterway. The project involved about one mile of the waterway’s total three-mile length.
In planning and implementing the cleanup, Schnitzer Steel listened to input from the community. The project included dredging the waterway and disposing of approximately 620,000 tons of contaminated sediments. Taking advantage of satellite positioning and computer technology, new dredging techniques were used to pinpoint specific targets of contaminated sediments — avoiding unnecessary removal of "native” sediments through over-dredging. In fact, sediment remediation experts from across North America visited the project to observe and learn from the innovative approach employed.
As part of the cleanup, the shoreline was improved significantly, two acres of new aquatic habitat was developed and the Hylebos Marina was enhanced.
In a related project, Schnitzer Steel is restoring salmon spawning habitat in Hylebos Creek, in combination with managing a wetland mitigation project for Sound Transit.
"We listened to the many interested parties and stakeholders as we developed a cleanup plan that met all the Superfund requirements and it made a tremendous difference,” said Mat Cusma, an environmental manager for Schnitzer Steel. "We accomplished what we set out to do and our stakeholders are pleased with the results.”
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