Port of Vancouver USA - Fruit Valley Area Cleanup

The Port of Vancouver owns the former Swan Manufacturing Company site and the Cadet Manufacturing Company site (see map below), both of which have contaminated soils and groundwater.

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In addition to contamination at the sites, contamination has migrated to a larger area through the movement of groundwater.

The contamination consists of solvents (chemicals) including trichloroethylene (TCE). TCE is classified as a Volatile Organic Compound, or VOC. VOCs are organic compounds that readily evaporate into the air. VOCs are common in the environment throughout the country, due to widespread household and industrial use. Examples of VOCs found in homes include some paints, glues, household cleaners, and dry-cleaned clothing.

Below is the history of the Swan and Cadet sites, including a discussion of how solvent contamination occurred:

Swan Site
In 1982, the Port purchased the former Swan Manufacturing Company property that was then occupied by a restaurant and tavern. The Port purchased the property to redevelop it, without knowledge of contamination on the site.

The contamination was discovered in 1997, during the construction of the Mill Plain Boulevard extension. Research into the contamination determined that TCE was used by Swan Manufacturing from 1956 to 1964, prior to Port ownership of the property. Swan Manufacturing had used the TCE as a cleaning solvent during the manufacture of baseboard heaters.

The Port took immediate action to investigate the extent of the groundwater contamination and to excavate and treat highly contaminated soil from the Swan site from 1998 to 1999. Ecology has approved investigative and treatment activities completed by the Port.

Cadet Site
Cadet manufactures electric heaters and has been operating at the Cadet site since 1972. Prior to Cadet, the Swan Manufacturing Company operated an electric heater manufacturing business at the Cadet site from 1964 until 1972.

In 1998, while investigating contaminants at the Swan site, the Port discovered that the Cadet site also had groundwater contaminated with TCE. Cadet Manufacturing initiated its own investigation and cleanup efforts directly after the discovery of contamination.

The Port and Cadet were involved in litigation over responsibility for the TCE contamination, and have recently settled their case. As part of the settlement with Cadet, the Port purchased the Cadet Manufacturing Company property in May 2006. This will allow the Port to better coordinate and expedite the cleanup, and to protect our neighbors and the Port. As part of the purchase, the Port has the responsibility to complete Cadet’s environmental cleanup. The Port is working with Parametrix, an environmental engineering firm, to complete the Cadet cleanup.

Cadet no longer uses TCE in bulk, and has switched to a water-based cleaning process.

To learn more about the cleanup effort, click here.


	PORT of VANCOUVER, USA 3103 Lower River Road Vancouver, WA 98660 phone: (360) 693-3611 fax: (360) 735-1565 email:

	The Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership is an effort by the Port of Vancouver, City of Vancouver Department of Public Works, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation, Clark County Department of Public Works, the Fruit Valley Neighborhood Association and a panel of citizens. The Partnership will research the lake's environmental health to help determine its future as a natural resource. Click here to visit their new Web site.