Jackson Park Housing Complex (USNAVY)

Overview

Jackson Park Housing Complex sits in Kitsap County, Washington, on land that served as a Navy ammunition depot from 1904 to 1959. Ordnance manufacturing and disassembly left behind hazardous chemicals and heavy metals in soil, surface water, and sediment. The site was added to the National Priorities List in May 1994, and cleanup work began in 1995. Today the property serves as high-density residential housing for Navy personnel and their families, with a naval hospital on the remaining portion.

Contaminants of concern include benzene, toluene, xylene compounds, and ethylbenzene in groundwater, along with gasoline-range petroleum hydrocarbons. Mercury is present in fish tissue and sediment in the marine area, which is Ostrich Bay. Unexploded ordnance is also present in soil and sediment in separate parts of the property. Historical operations washed hazardous dust and wastewater, including ammonium picrate, into Ostrich Bay through floor drains, and ordnance powders were burned in the open.

The Navy is the lead federal agency responsible for cleanup, and the EPA oversees compliance. The site is divided into five operable units covering different areas and contamination types. Completed actions include soil and vegetation covers, shoreline stabilization, removal of contaminated wooden pilings, and excavation of contaminated soil. Cleanup of the main housing complex property finished in June 2015, and work on the Naval Hospital Barber property wrapped up in July 2016. Marine remedial action started in July 2024. The most complex remaining work involves unexploded ordnance in marine areas, with a cleanup decision estimated between September and November 2027.

One active concern is the Benzene Release Area, where benzene concentrations in seep water discharging to Ostrich Bay still exceed cleanup goals. The remedy there is not yet protective, and investigation and pilot testing are underway to determine a revised approach. Shellfish harvesting in Ostrich Bay is prohibited under institutional controls until marine tissue analysis using recently developed methods can be completed. Shoreline signs and a shellfish sampling program keep residents informed of harvest restrictions. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2025.

Two EPA staff members are available for questions. Beth Clemons serves as the Community Involvement Coordinator. Chan Pongkhamsing is the Remedial Project Manager and can be reached by email or phone. Site documents are also available at the Bremerton Central and Downtown Libraries and the Silverdale Library, as well as through the Engineering Field Activity Northwest office in Silverdale, Washington.