Owners don’t want arsenic-tainted soil removed

TACOMA — About 100 property owners in Ruston and Tacoma’s north end are refusing to let Asarco LLC remove arsenic- and lead-contaminated soil from their yards, preventing the completion of a Superfund cleanup project begun 14 years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency said.

“Obviously, it is unfortunate that we have a large number of people who are refusing sampling or refusing cleanup,” said Kevin Rochlin, an Environmental Protection Agency project manager. “I cannot guarantee in the future peoples’ yards will be cleaned up.”

EPA officials have tried to persuade property owners for several years to participate in the cleanup program. It’s unclear why they won’t, Rochlin said.

“We are going to make one last attempt to contact all the refusals over the next year,” he said. But the cost burden is likely to increase as participation dwindles. “It is a lot cheaper and easier to do multiple yards simultaneously,” he said.

Asarco’s copper smelter shut down in 1985. Superfund contractors have demolished all the buildings, and the EPA has agreed to allow the Point Ruston development company to finish the onsite cleanup.

But surrounding residential properties remain Asarco’s responsibility. The goal of the project is to remove and replace dirt in about 1,500 yards, rights of way and alleys near the former smelter, Rochlin said.

That’s about three times as many parcels as EPA estimated in 1993 when they planned the project that was supposed to take seven years to complete. But the cost of the project so far — $20 million — has been considerably less than the estimate of between $60 million and $80 million.

Whether the presence of arsenic- and lead-tainted soils affects Ruston-area property values is unclear. State real estate disclosure law requires sellers to inform buyers of environmental contamination at the time of sale.

“I can’t imagine why anybody is reluctant to have it done,” said Jeff Warnke, owner of a rental house where workers this past summer removed several inches of backyard soil. The result was fantastic, Warnke said, “like a landscape company came and did your yard for free.”

Another North Tacoma property owner, Cheryl Perkins, said she had been reluctant to participate. “I don’t like dirt flying around,” she said.

Eventually, the couple agreed to schedule the work after Labor Day. “This is a brand-new beginning for us,” Cheryl Perkins said. “We love it.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens schools bond leading early; Arlington voters reject latest levy attempt

A $314 million bond looks to pass while Arlington’s attempts to build a new Post Middle School again appear to take a step back.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.