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The Washington Department of Ecology and S.C. Breen Construction Company have agreed to a Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA, Chapter 70.105D RCW) order to conduct a remedial investigation/ feasibility study (RI/FS) of perchloroethylene contaminated groundwater and soil at the Hamilton/ Labree Roads site. An agreed order is a legal document formalizing an agreement between Ecology and potentially liable persons (PLP's), to ensure that proposed site investigation and cleanup activities are conducted in a timely fashion, in accordance with MTCA and other applicable laws and regulations. Your comments on the proposed agreed order are welcome through September 16, 1999. The box to the right provides information about where to review the agreed order, as well as where to submit comments. Site BackgroundThe Hamilton/Labree Roads site, 151 and 159 Labree Road, includes about 6.5 acres at the intersection of Hamilton and Labree Roads, south of Chehalis. The property is owned by S.C. Breen Construction Company of Chehalis. The parcel was occupied by a surplus store and the Breen Construction maintenance shop, but has recently been the location of Bulldog Trailer Manufacturing. Routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Health in 1993 detected high levels of perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene or PCE or perc) in drinking water. Ecology investigation and groundwater monitoring data shows that a large area of the shallow groundwater (aquifer present between 15 to 45 feet below ground surface) surrounding the immediate vicinity of the site is contaminated with high levels of perchloroethylene. However, the deep aquifer (below 120 feet from the ground surface) is not contaminated. Perchloroethylene is a chemical commonly used as a solvent in metal degreasing and cleaning operations, dry cleaning, and other industrial uses. The ground water aquifer is the drinking water source for numerous area residences and businesses. The maximum contamination level of perchloroethylene for public water systems is 5 parts per billion (ppb). The concentrations found in several private shallow drinking water wells ranged from 5.75 ppb to 3009 ppb. Wells in the deep aquifer did not show any contamination. Ecology has provided bottled water, including a full treatment system for one home, to affected residents since the initial 1993 test results were announced. |
August 1999FACT SHEETEcology Southwest Regional Office
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ONAGREED ORDER:August 6, 1999 to September 16, 1999 Comments and requests for updates should be directed to Panjini Balaraju or Marv Coleman, Site Managers, at the Ecology address listed above or at
INFORMATION REPOSITORIESThe agreed order can be reviewed at the following locations: Ecology Southwest Regional Office address listed above Centralia Library
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Perchloroethylene, a suspected human carcinogen, is a volatile organic compound which does not occur naturally in the environment. Perchloroethylene usually enters the environment from a spill where the chemical is made or used, or from a landfill or other area where the chemical has been disposed of Ecology discovered from interviews with local residents that the surplus store acquired a variety of chemicals which it could not sell and some of these chemicals (in 55-gallon and smaller containers) disappeared at the same time that a large pit was dug on the property and filled during one weekend in the early 1980's. Evidence suggests that the pit was dug near the building that has been occupied by Bulldog Trailer Manufacturing, 151 Labree Road. Ecology was also informed that construction equipment was cleaned on a wash pad south of the construction company maintenance building and solvents may have been used to clean that equipment. The pad drained to a trench or settling pit that was dug beside it. High levels of perchloroethylene and its breakdown products (dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride) have been found near the wash pad and Bulldog Trailer building, respectively. Elevated levels of perchloroethylene have been found in groundwater downgradient from the wash pad as well as the Bulldog Trailer building.
Just after the agreed order was signed, Ecology discovered buried drums underneath the Bulldog Trailer building. So far, only two drums have been uncovered and removed. Samples taken from the drums are contaminated with perchloroethylene and other chemicals.
The agreed order requires Breen Construction to conduct a remedial investigation/feasibility study of perchloroethylene contamination in soil and groundwater. The remedial investigation will determine the nature, extent, and magnitude of site contamination. 'The feasibility study will evaluate site cleanup alternatives. The agreed order also requires Breen Construction to investigate the source of groundwater contamination, including whether drums or other containers have been buried. Any emergency removal actions (such as removing and disposing of drums and contaminated soil) are authorized by the agreed order. Ecology will oversee implementation of the agreed order to ensure that all parts of the agreed order are fulfilled.
Public comment on the agreed order will be considered and the order will be modified, if necessary, based on the comments received. The work for the remedial investigation/feasibility study will be completed by as quickly as possible. Results of the remedial investigation/ feasibility study will guide any further necessary action. Further formal public comment opportunities will occur after the remedial investigation/feasibility study is completed.
You are invited to review and comment on the proposed agreed order through September 16, 1999. The public comment period presents an opportunity to have your ideas and comments heard by Ecology. Information repositories, which include the agreed order, have been set up at the locations listed in the box on page one. To review more detailed site documents than those in the information repositories, contact Ecology's Southwest Regional Office records center at (360) 407-6365 to schedule an appointment.
Please submit your written comments to Panjini Balaraju or Marv Coleman, Site Managers at the Ecology address listed in the box on page one. Ecology will review and respond to all comments received, an may revise the agreed order. Updates of site activities will be provided to those who submit comments or request to be placed on the site mailing list. (If you received this fact sheet directly from Ecology, you are already on the site mailing list.)
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