Port of Seattle advances landmark East Waterway cleanup project

The Port of Seattle has announced significant progress in the cleanup of Seattle’s East Waterway. In October, the port commission authorized the launch of a solicitation process to select a firm for the critical remedial design phase – a key milestone that takes the project another step closer to implementation.

The East Waterway, located within the Harbor Island Superfund Site, represents the final and most complex phase of a decades-long, federally led initiative to remediate legacy industrial contamination. Under oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Port of Seattle is partnering with King County and the City of Seattle to execute a plan that will address sediment contaminated with pollutants such as PCBs, arsenic, mercury, and other persistent toxins that pose risks to human health and the environment.

This coordinated action follows recent agreements with the EPA, solidifying a shared commitment to restoring the Duwamish River ecosystem and protecting surrounding communities for generations to come. Once completed, the project will not only support a healthier marine environment but will also reinforce the port’s leadership in environmental stewardship – a core value highlighted through its ongoing participation in the Green Marine environmental certification program.

As the first U.S. West Coast port to achieve Green Marine certification, the Port of Seattle continues to set a high bar for sustainable development, rigorous emissions reductions, and collaborative environmental action in North America’s maritime sector.