Staff from the Historical Seaport and Twin Harbors Waterkeeper are inviting citizens for one of two walking tours of the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill Aberdeen/Seaport Landing at 5 p.m. on May 1 and May 22.

Seaport Landing is listed as a contaminated site under Washington’s environmental cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act, which works to protect our health by funding and directing the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites.

The Model Toxics Control Act is a cleanup process during which cleanup alternatives are developed and evaluated, as well as public meetings where people have opportunities to provide comments and learn about the proposed cleanup alternatives.

Seaport Landing has a fascinating history. Beginning in the early 1900s, it was used for the forest product industry, including sawmills. Between 1955 and 2013, the Weyerhaeuser Company operated two sawmills, steam drying kilns and wood refuse burners. The site was also used to load barges and produce wood chips.

Today, there are numerous buildings and features that have not changed, including former maintenance areas and storage buildings. A truss manufacturing business currently operates on a portion of the site.

In 2013, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority purchased the property from Weyerhaeuser, and agreed to take responsibility for cleaning up remaining contamination.

The following contaminants are suspected to be found in sediments, soil or groundwater at the site: benzoic acid, polychlorinated biphenyls, Wood waste, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals (chromium, lead, copper, and manganese), petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, dioxins and phenol.

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is working to investigate and evaluate cleanup alternatives for portions of the site, and is conducting investigations that will lead to a draft cleanup action plan for the site. During the tour, they will discuss cleanup alternatives, as well as the cleanup process.

This product is funded through a Public Participation Grant from the Department of Ecology.

The tour will be held rain or shine — so dress for the weather and prepare to walk about one mile over uneven ground. Seaport Landing is located at 500 North Custer St., in Aberdeen.