Department of Ecology News Release - Oct. 15, 2001 01-180
YAKIMA - Work may begin soon to clean up a 4-acre tract of land where more than 60 contaminants have been identified in soil and underground water along the railroad corridor in Yakima.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has ordered U-Haul of Inland Northwest to remove contaminated soil from the site where pesticide and petroleum operations were conducted over a 66-year period. U-Haul purchased the block at 1108 S. First St. in 1984.
"The presence of so many contaminants makes this site all the more complex," explained site manager Dick Bassett, with Ecology's toxics cleanup program.
"The goal is to find a simple but reliable way to clean up the property so it can safely be used again."
Of the 62 contaminants found at the site, 23 are known carcinogens. About half of the 62 have reached the underground aquifer. Contaminants include pesticides, volatile organic compounds, metals and petroleum products.
"The focus will be to target nine of the most dangerous contaminants for cleanup. This should take care of the other contaminants found at the site," Bassett said.
From 1908 to 1974, lead arsenate and, later, chlorine-based pesticides were manufactured at the former Yakima Valley Spray parcel. Much of the contamination is concentrated in the middle of the spray site where waste materials from the manufacturing process were dumped into a deep disposal pit.
For 59 years, from 1912 to 1971, a bulk-fuel distributor operated at the central parcel on the site. Shell Oil Company bought the business in 1955 and operated it until 1971. Various businesses, including a wrecking yard and a farm machinery and heavy equipment service, operated on the southern parcel.
Copies of the cleanup plan are available for public review and comment through Nov. 10 at the Yakima Valley Regional office or Ecology's regional office, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Ste. 200.
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