Public comment to be taken on cleanup of SWIFT Center

SEDRO-WOOLLEY - A public comment period will open next week on an array of documents related to planned cleanup at the SWIFT Center in Sedro-Woolley.

The comment period will run Monday through July 16.

Some soil and groundwater at the former Northern State Hospital campus are contaminated above levels deemed acceptable by the state.

The contamination, which occurred when the hospital was in operation from 1912 to 1973, includes lead, arsenic, solvents used in dry cleaning, carcinogenic hydrocarbons and petroleum products.

Up for public comment are the state Department of Ecology's interim action work plan - which lays out the scope of work and schedule - the State Environmental Policy Act Determination of Nonsignificance for the cleanup work, and the public participation plan.

The work plan focuses on the Hub Building.

Paint that contains lead has flaked off the building, settling into the surrounding soil and contaminating the area.

Under the plan, the contaminated soil will be removed so that building visitors do not come into contact with it.

Under the public participation plan, Ecology will mail notices about public comment to addresses within a quarter-mile of the site. The department can also hold an event about the site if 10 or more people request one.

The department plans to remove the contamination at the Hub Building in summer 2027.

Once restored, the Port of Skagit, which owns the SWIFT Center, intends to make the Hub Building an event space for private and public events, conferences, trainings and tourism-related activities.

The cleanup at the Hub Building has been prioritized to allow the Port of Skagit to move forward with its redevelopment efforts, according to Ecology plans.

Those interested can comment online at ecology.commentinput.com or mail comments to Chris DeBoer, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 330316, Shoreline, 98133.

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