Proposed cleanup strategies for contaminated areas beneath a hazardous waste processing facility in Kent could include an underground barrier, on-site groundwater treatment or long-term monitoring.

The state Department of Ecology seeks public comment through Nov. 14, on an evaluation of cleanup options for Stericycle/BEI (formerly PSC, operating as Burlington Environmental LLC) at 20245 77th Ave. S.

Ecology also seeks comment on an earlier investigation that determined the type and extent of the site’s contamination. A variety of contaminants are located within Stericycle’s property and pose no immediate risk to human health or the environment, according to a news release from Ecology.

People also can comment on amendments Ecology proposes to the facility’s state permit to treat and temporarily store hazardous wastes. The changes would include closing some operations and transferring them to the company’s Tacoma facility, closure of several oily wastewater tanks and construction of several facility upgrades.

Hundreds of manufacturers and other businesses – in Washington and elsewhere in the West – rely on Stericycle for proper treatment, storage and disposal of their hazardous wastes. The Kent facility processes oily wastewater, materials that contain poly-chlorinated biphenyls, acids, cyanide wastes, sludge, phenol, caustic materials and aqueous metal-bearing wastes.

People can view the proposals and other documents about the facility’s hazardous waste permit and cleanup process at Ecology’s website or at the Kent Public Library, 212 Second Ave. N.

Please send comments or questions to Neal Hines, site manager, Dept. of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. SE, Bellevue WA 98008-5452, Neal.Hines@ecy.wa.gov. For questions by phone, call 425-649-7181.