GRANDVIEW — Investigators have found an oily, black liquid at an illegal dump site at a lower Yakima Valley farm.
The state departments of Agriculture and Ecology and the federal Environmental Protection Agency have been investigating the site north of Grandview since Wednesday, after complaints from witnesses about illegal dumping.
Since then, excavators have found about 150 containers of various sizes buried less than 8 feet deep, said Joye Redfield-Wilder, an Ecology spokeswoman. Most of the containers were broken or punctured.
They’ve also found buried furniture, computer equipment, car batteries, aerosol spray cans and a golf cart.
Investigators don’t yet know how widespread the problem is, but they are concerned about possible groundwater contamination, Redfield-Wilder said. The water table in the area is 6 to 8 feet deep.
“It is not good,” she said. “It’s definitely a shame.”
Ecology officials have not issued a formal advisory for well testing, but recommend that all private well owners test their water periodically regardless of any specific threat.
Several messages left with the owners, who have not been charged with any wrongdoing, were not returned to the Yakima Herald-Republic.
Investigators have sent samples of the contaminants to a laboratory to be identified. They also are considering testing other areas on the 109-acre farm to see if the contamination has spread beyond the two-acre site under investigation.
Authorities suspect there may be more dump sites on the property, Redfield-Wilder said.
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