By John Henderer, The Chronicle, 8/10/99
Contaminated drinking water formerly serving employees at Lewis County's Central Shop will be cleaned up sometime soon.
Lewis County commissioners agreed Monday to cooperate with the state Department of Ecology, accepting responsibility for the cleanup.
Ground water tests found volatile, organic compounds in well water at the shop on Forest-Napavine Road near Jackson Highway.
"I would presume it's probably oils and greases that are in the ground in there," said Commission Chairman Richard Graham.
The county's practice of washing off vehicles at the shop and letting the runoff course into the ground likely contributed to the contamination, Graham said.
The county now provides bottled water for employees at the shop.
Private wells tested around the area did not contain similar contamination, indicating the mess did not spread far.
By accepting responsibility for cleanup and waiving a 30-day notice and comment period, the county speeds up the cleanup and qualifies for state grant money to help pay for the work.
Graham said the state will cover 75 percent of the cost, leaving 25 percent for the county.
"That's why we signed the waiver - so we can go ahead and proceed (with cleanup) without sitting around and wondering," Graham said.
A 1985 Ecology inspection found the county was incorrectly handling hazardous waste at the site.
Last year, the county built a new wash station for cleaning county vehicles. It uses a sump and filtration system to collect contaminants and reuse the water, similar to modern environmentally sound commercial car washes.
"In the past, you just hose it off outside and wherever it went, it went, you know," Graham said.
Workers at the site found an oily sheen on top of ground water at the site while digging trenches at the site this past spring for a traffic control shed.
Details on the exact nature of the contamination could not be obtained by The Chronicle's news deadline this morning from the state Department of Health, which investigated the case.
In other business, commissioners:
Appointed Lee Grose, Packwood, to the East Lewis County Public Development Authority, while reappointing Bert Selis, Glenoma.
Canceled a $10,092.50 check paid to the wrong vendor. The check to Alpine Fire and Safety, Mount Vernon, should have been paid to Alpine Products Inc., Federal Way.
Accepted a $94,555 state grant to pay for expenses at the 9-1-1 dispatch center.
Accepted a $46,800 state grant to pay for costs of complying with the Growth Management Act.
Lowered the speed limit on Blankenship Road to 35 mph.
Lowered the speed limit on Studhalter Road to 25 mph.
John Henderer covers county government and environmental issues for The Chronicle. He can be reached by e-mail at jhenderer@chronline.com or by calling 807-8239.
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