Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) oversees compliance activities for contaminated sites on UW properties.
Some UW properties have soil and/or groundwater contamination from past or present activities. These activities include industrial operations, dry cleaning, leaking heating oil tanks, hydraulic lifts, underground storage tanks, fuel storage or dispensing areas, improper hazardous materials storage and use, and the use of lead-based paint.
EH&S oversees compliance with environmental assessments, release reporting and environmental remediation. We maintain records on all contaminated sites and can help identify known or suspected contaminated sites.
The Montlake Landfill and the UW Tacoma campus contaminated sites are described below.
Montlake Landfill
The Montlake Landfill is located on in the northeast quadrant of the Seattle campus. It contains the Union Bay Natural Area, shorelines, wetlands and a riparian corridor. This site (formerly called the Ravenna Landfill) was operated as a municipal landfill by the City of Seattle from 1926 until about 1966 and was closed in 1971.
EH&S reviews all projects that occur on the Montlake Landfill to ensure workers are aware of methane gas, soil and groundwater contamination, and landfill cap issues. Refer to the Montlake Landfill Project Guide and the Montlake Landfill Methane Action Plan for more information.
UW Tacoma
UW Tacoma occupies a former industrial area in the historic warehouse district of Tacoma. During campus development, extensive soil and groundwater contamination was 
identified. The soil and groundwater contains volatile organic compounds, metals and petroleum hydrocarbons, depending on the location.
The UW entered into an Agreed Order with the Washington State Department of Ecology to assess and clean up the contamination. Under the Agreed Order, the UW is considered a potentially liable party and is responsible for investigation and remedial actions. The University is in the process of conducting further environmental assessments across the UW Tacoma Campus footprint.
Project managers
EH&S recommends that project managers conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment may also be warranted, depending on the findings in the Phase I report.
Design requirements
Please refer to the Environmental Protection Requirements in the Environmental Health & Safety section of the UW Facilities Design Standards, or call EH&S at 206.616.0585 for assistance with site contamination issues such as the discovery of contamination or construction in known contaminated areas.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, EH&S maintains records on all contaminated sites and can help identify known or suspected contaminated sites.
EH&S strongly recommends that project managers always conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment to determine what activities may have occurred. We will review the report and, based on recognized environmental concerns, determine the need to conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.
Please contact EH&S at 206.616.0585 as soon as possible during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Outside of regular business hours, call UW Police at 206-685-8973 and ask to be connected to the EH&S Staff on Call.
We are required to report petroleum leaks from an underground storage tank within 24 hours of detection. Ecology will require an environmental investigation and cleanup if a leak has occurred.
More Information
Washington Administrative Code Model Toxics Control Act (WAC 173-340)