Port to improve stormwater treatment and testing at Swantown Boatworks

The Port of Olympia is set to improve stormwater treatment at Swantown Boatworks in compliance with its new permit, which requires tightened standards for monitoring stormwater pollutants.

The Port Commission authorized Interim Executive Director Rudy Rudolph on Monday, August 14, to execute a contract with engineering firm Skillings, Inc. to prepare an engineering report assessing stormwater options for the boatworks.

Skilling’s contract is for $76,529 and will run through the end of the year. The agreement also requires the firm to prepare engineering plans and a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review checklist.

The stormwater improvement is required due to the boatworks permit, issued in 2022 by the Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Harbor Senior Manager TJ Quandt had previously said at a previous meeting that the new permit outlined drastic reductions in benchmarks for stormwater pollutants, specifically for copper, which is now required to be under 44 parts per billion.

The maximum limit for copper was previously 147 parts per billion.

The boatworks currently has a bio-retention pond located at its entrance but would need more to meet the new standards. 

Acting Operations Director Warren Hendrickson said the new stormwater treatment facility would likely be constructed north of the existing pond. Port staff has also assured him that the construction of the new facility would not impact the operations of the boatyard.

Ecology also requires the Port to monitor other pollutants and indicators such as zinc, turbidity, pH level, and hydrocarbons. Port Commissioner Bob Iyall suggested that port staff also look into 6PDD, a chemical released from tires and has been found to be toxic to coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).

Hendrickson told the commission that the project’s construction could begin before the end of the year; however, he also noted that chances are low that it would push through this year.