Search this Chehalis River Council site!EPA and the S.C. Breen Construction Company continue to study groundwater contamination at the Hamilton/Labree Superfund site to determine the best way to permanently clean it up. The overall site boundaries at this location will be described in a Remedial Investigation report.
EPA is concerned, however, about a particular hot spot where we found high concentrations of tetra-chloroethylene (PCE), a chlorinated solvent. (Please see the back page for details about this chemical.) This is in a specific section of the site, being called the Hamilton Road Impacted Area (HRIA). (Please see the map on page 2 for details.) Moving Ahead with Hot Spot Cleanup Plans
To find out more CRC info on Berwick - Hamilton/Labree PCE or Superfund , click on the word search and then type in your search terms: SEARCH CRC site |
In the February fact sheet, we discussed this hot spot, where PCE had apparently been dumped directly into Berwick Creek at least 15 years ago. Since PCE is heavier than water, it rapidly sank to the bottom of the creek and eventually settled into the soils beneath the creek. It is slowly dissolving into groundwater and moving with the groundwater as it flows northwest. Recent studies show that the con-taminated area is growing. This hot spot needs to be treated to prevent more environ-mental harm.
EPA had hoped to clean up the hot spot during the summer of 2004, but funding was not available to complete the work this year. Some funding is now available. The work includes designing and building a pump-and-treat system to temporarily contain the PCE until it can be permanently removed from the creek bed and from the soils and groundwater under the creek.
This system will pump groundwater, clean it to acceptable EPA levels, and discharge the clean water to Berwick Creek. We expect to begin construction on this system in the spring of 2005.
We Still Need Your HelpEPA continues to seek information about how PCE got into Berwick Creek. We have not been able to identify who may have dumped PCE into the creek. If you have any informa-tion to share about this, please call or write: Bob Kievit
If you choose to provide information, you can remain anonymous if you wish. |
The S.C. Breen Construction Company this summer asked EPA if Breen could temporarily suspend work on the long-term investigation and analysis of alter-natives at the Hamilton-Labree site until Breen could work out some funding issues. EPA agreed to the temporary work stoppage, but plans to meet with Breen soon to discuss resuming and completing the work as soon as possible.
EPA expects to issue a draft cleanup plan in the fall of 2005. We will invite your comments at that time. Your thoughts and opinions about the cleanup options are important to us.
The Hamilton/Labree site, near the corner of Hamilton and Labree Roads, is about three miles south of Chehalis, WA, along Interstate 5. Two aquifers lie under the site. The shallow one sup-plies drinking water to 252 local residents and businesses, as well as to three public supply wells that serve about 1,256 people. It is separated from the deep aquifer by about 100 feet of clay.
In 1999, the Washington State Department of Ecology found 64 drums containing PCE and petroleum compounds buried near the present site. The S.C. Breen Construction Company, named a potentially responsible party (PRP) for this part of the site, removed the drums and the contaminated soil around them.
In summer 2000, EPA added the site to its National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites targeted for cleanup. The site includes the HRIA hot spot described on page one, which has contributed most of the contamaination.
PCE was found in ten private drinking water wells. In 2002, EPA and the City of Chehalis cooperated to install a new water line for these homes. The city owns, maintains, and operates the water line. EPA continues to test area groundwater to ensure that other drinking water wells are not affected.
The S.C. Breen Construction Company, through its contractor, Farallon Consulting, has been evaluating possible cleanup alternatives for the overall site. EPA is overseeing this work, which is called a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS).
About long-term cleanup:
Bob Kievit
EPA Remedial Project Manager
(360) 753-9014
kievit.bob@epa.gov
Kathleen Veit
EPA Comunity Involvement Manager
(206) 553-1352
viet.kathleen@epa.gov
EPA toll-free # 1-800-424-4372
For health-related questions:
Marcia Henning or
Gary Palcisko
Washington State Department of Health
Toll free: 1-877-485-7316
For more information about the site:
Visit the EPA Region 10 Web page at
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth, click on Index,
then H for Hamilton Labree.
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council