The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that the Hamilton-Labree Roads Ground Water site in Chehalis, Washington, be added to EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) of contaminated sites identified for potential long-term cleanup. This proposal is intended to effectively address the long-term threat to drinking water posed by contaminants found in a shallow aquifer. In 1993, testing of drinking water wells revealed that six wells near the intersection of Hamilton and Labree Roads were contaminated with perchloro-ethylene (PCE).
In September 1999, EPA and the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) visited the site together.
At this time, DOE requested that EPA consider listing it on the NPL. EPA evaluated the site using the
Hazard Ranking System and determined that it qualified for the NPL.
The NPL proposal was published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2000. The public comment period ends on July 10, 2000. Interested parties are encouraged to provide their comments concerning this listing proposal to EPA.. Send an original and three copies of your comments to:
By Postal Mail:
By Express Mail:
You may also e-mail your comments, in ASCII format only, to superfund.docket@epa.gov
E-mailed comments must be followed up by an original and three copies sent by mail or express mail
Intersection of Hamilton and Labree Roads. It is located The Hamilton-Labree site is the property near the about three miles south of Chehalis, Washington, along Interstate 5. In 1993, during testing for a commercial well application, perchloro-ethylene (PCE) was discovered in the ground water. PCE is a chemical commonly used in metal degreasing and cleaning operations, dry cleaning, and other industrial uses. It has the potential to cause cancer in humans. This finding prompted the Lewis County Department of Health to ask the Washington Department of Health (DOH) to investigate ground water contamination in private and public supply wells in the area. DOH sampled in 1993-1994 and again in 1996, confirming PCE contamination. At this time, the county health department advised owners of the contaminated wells to use an alternate water supply for drinking and cooking.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has notified all affected well users. EPA understands that bottled water is being used for drinking water. DOE also installed a small treatment system for one of the residences whose well showed the highest PCE concentration.
Since 1996, DOE has been doing site investigations to better characterize the contamination and identify the source(s) of PCE contamination. Monitoring wells were installed and samples confirmed the presence of PCE in ground water and subsurface soil. Samples of surface water from nearby Berwick Creek also contained PCE.
Contamination appears to be concentrated in two areas:
In August 1999, approximately 63 buried drums containing PCE were removed from an area near the intersection of Hamilton and Labree Roads. They were taken to a permitted disposal facility. In January 2000, DOE conducted a magnetometer survey in the area. A magnetometer is a device which uses an electrical current to find any inconsistencies in the soil structure, which could indicate that something is buried underground. Several inconsistencies were found. EPA understands that DOE plans to follow up by digging test pits in these areas, to see if any buried materials can be located.
In June and July, EPA will be taking samples in order to determine the source and extent of the contamination in the area south of Hamilton Road. If such a source can be located, EPA will consider removing that material in order to prevent further migration of PCE into the environment.
If you would like to review the documents that support this NPL proposal, please call or e-mail:
Bob Phillips, EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, ECL-110 Seattle, Washington 98 1 01 (206) 553-6699 phillips.bob@epa.gov
If you have questions on EPA's upcoming sampling work, please contact: Bill Longston, EPA Removal Program at (206) 553-1679
If you have questions about the proposed NPL listing or other questions about the site, please contact:
Sally Thomas, Project Manager at (206) 553-2102
Debra Packard, Community involvement Coordinator at (206) 553-0247
You may also call our toll free number: 1-800-424-4372
To ensure effective communication with everyone, additional services can be made available to persons
with disabilities by contacting one of the numbers above.
EPA's Internet homepage:
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth
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