Client: Port of Olympia, WA.

Project Specifications: For more than 50 years, Cascade Pole and Lumber Co. (now a subsidiary of McFarland Cascade Holdings, a national decking manufacturer), had produced creosote-treated fir poles for telephone and electrical lines and other commercial uses. Cascade Pole operated its plant on a site owned by the Port of Olympia and adjacent to the popular Swantown Marina on Budd Inlet (part of Puget Sound). After Cascade Pole vacated the property, the Port was charged by the Department of Ecology with cleaning up and recovering the site.

Cleanup actions include:

• Removing more than 50,000 cubic yards of contaminated marine sediment
• Completing a barrier wall and modifying the stormwater drainage system to prevent contaminants from entering the Sound
• Conducting a pilot study to evaluate potential treatment methods for the most severely contaminated soils
• Capping the area to isolate the public from contaminated soil

Hatton Godat Pantier was brought in by the Port as the lead consultant to provide design for the capping operation with an eye towards reclaiming the space as a useable public area.

Key Challenge: There were multiple moving parts and conflicting goals in this project: The cargo and freight-handling areas needed space. Marina operations needed boat and trailer parking. Plus, the future development vision for the North Pointe development included creating a shoreline trail, adding public space and providing for future office and retail buildings. Hatton needed to balance and accommodate these multiple uses and needs.

The Point of Difference: "This project demanded a wide variety of project experience," said Steve Hatton. "We were called on to deliver comprehensive engineering and design services, including surveying, engineering for roads, commercial development and parking lots and landscape design. It took a lot of creativity to manage and recognize all the various needs in this project, and I'm proud of how well we integrated the multiple uses identified for this project."