Boeing Takes Down Remaining Structures at Plant 2 in Wash. State

Yesterday Boeing took down the last remaining steel structures that supported its Plant 2 in King County, Wash. for more than 75 years, making room for site restoration, including development of five acres of wildlife habitat.

Most of the old empty buildings formerly known as U.S. Air Force Plant 17—but later called Plant 2 because it was Boeing's second assembly site—were demolished earlier this year in conjunction with Boeing's commitment to environmental improvements that are vital to the Duwamish Waterway.

Restoration plans include:
• Developing a resting area for migratory fish such as salmon
• Excavating and replacing more than 200,000 cu yd of contaminated sediment
• Recycling or reusing materials recovered from the buildings, including steel beams, copper wiring, wood and concrete
• New storm water treatment systems to prevent recontamination of the waterway

The plant was important to the war effort in the 1940s, with 30,000 people producing up to 300 aircraft a month, including the B-17 and B-52 bombers. Boeing is working with local museums including the Museum of Flight and the Museum of History and Industry to preserve its history.

In cooperation with the U.S. EPA and the Washington State Department of Ecology, Boeing is already working on cleaning up the site. Dredging and soil remediation at Plant 2 is currently expected to begin in 2012, followed by the shoreline and habitat restoration.

Source: PR Newswire