State calls three soiled parcels clean
Published 11:21 pm Thursday, December 18, 2008
EVERETT — Contamination at two former Snohomish County automotive businesses and a onetime illegal drug lab has been cleaned up and the three properties may soon be removed from a statewide hazardous sites list.
More than 100 sites in Snohomish County remain on cleanup list, including Everett’s Rotary Park and the county’s McCollum Park.
Most are old industrial and commercial properties, such as gas stations and laundromats.
“Practices a long time ago very often led to contamination,” said Larry Altose, a Department of Ecology spokesman.
The three local properties that are candidates for removal from the state listing were cleaned up under Washington’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.
Rather than a state-managed cleanup, property owners under the program can independently clean up their own property. The Department of Ecology provides technical assistance.
After sites are no longer deemed a hazard to public health or the environment, they can be taken off the list.
Here are the properties:
Former Pop’s Automotive Roloff site, 1521 126th St. SE, Everett
History: A 1993 gasoline leak contaminated surrounding soil and drinking water in three nearby homes.
The next year, the contaminated soil was removed and water lines to the homes were cleaned.
Tests earlier this year confirmed that groundwater at the location of the spill is free of contamination. The public is invited to comment on the property by Monday.
Former Alseth Auto Parts, 618 105th St. SW, Everett
History: Neighborhood concerns prompted the Department of Ecology in 1996 to investigate the site. The state agency analyzed soil samples and found heavy metals, lead and cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — a now-banned, cancer-causing chemical once frequently used in manufacturing — and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination.
In October 2004, site cleanup began. Contractors removed between 1 and 2 feet of topsoil from most of the 1.5-acre site. Cleanup was completed in July 2006.
Yttri-Wozow site, 9218 171st Ave. SE, Snohomish
History: The two-acre residential lot is now owned by B&R Homes LLC. The company has cleaned up contaminated soil and materials left over from an illegal drug lab and junk yard left by the previous owner.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in 1994 found a methamphetamine lab on the property.
B&R homes hired an environmental consultant that took soil and groundwater samples and discovered the property was not actually polluted under state environmental laws. It found elevated levels of arsenic and lead were attributed to natural conditions in the area.
The firm did, however, remove nearly 2 tons of metal debris, 95 tons of garbage, 50 batteries and 15.4 tons of soil from the area where batteries were buried.
More info: www.ecy.wa.gov
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
