BLAINE - The Port of Bellingham and the Washington Department of Ecology have agreed on a legally binding plan to investigate pollution in Blaine Harbor and develop a cleanup plan.

The pollution is the remnant of decades of industrial activities. The current cleanup effort will focus on the Westman Marine site in the southeastern portion of the Blaine Harbor industrial area, near the end of Marine Drive off McMillan Avenue.

The port-owned area has been used as a boat and shipyard since the 1940s. Port officials plan to redevelop it eventually, but cleanup work must be done first, and Ecology must approve the cleanup plans.

The investigation and cleanup will include areas on land and in the water.

The agreement can be reviewed on Ecology's Westman Marine web page (ecy.wa.gov/news/2013/063.html), at the Bellingham Public Library or Ecology offices in Bellingham. Public comment is being taken until April 5, 2013.

Reach JOHN STARK at john.stark@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2274.