NU WAY Cleaners Yakima
Facility Site ID:
484
Cleanup Site ID:
3400
What Is The Yakima Railroad Area?
Nu Way Cleaners is a part of the Yakima Railroad Area (YRRA). The Yakima Railroad Area is approximately six square miles in size and includes parts of the cities of Yakima and Union Gap. The Yakima Railroad Area groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC) from past industrial use, and is centered around the railroad/industrial corridor of the greater Yakima area.
PCE is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing. It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.
Exposure to PCE can be from the air, chemical use, soil, or water. PCE can affect the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and reproductive system, as well as unborn children. There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
More information about potential sources of PCE and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.
PCE is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing. It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.
Exposure to PCE can be from the air, chemical use, soil, or water. PCE can affect the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and reproductive system, as well as unborn children. There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
More information about potential sources of PCE and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.
Site Description
The Nu-Way Cleaners Site operated as an active dry cleaning facility beginning in the 1950s.
Waste water from the floor drained into a sump located in the floor. The sump existed for over 20 years. Approximately 10 gallons of sludge was generated from the solvent recycling process filters each week.
In 1989, an inspection concluded that it is probable that numerous organic solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons had been released to the subsurface from Nu-Way. Therefore, a Site Hazard Assessment (SHA) was recommended.
While conducting the SHA, Ecology found the site to be in poor condition. Leakage from a dry cleaning machine with staining of the concrete floor in the dry cleaning room was noted during the inspection. The sump which receives drainage from the floor was in poor condition. A soil sample revealed acetone, PCE, and other contaminants. An underground storage tank used for solvent was also found on the site.
After the SHA, the Site was ranked a “1” on the Hazardous Sites List. The Hazardous Sites List is a statewide list of contaminated properties. Sites can be ranked from a “1” to “5”. A rank of “1” is the highest level of environmental concern compared to other sites on the List, and a rank of “5” is the lowest.
Waste water from the floor drained into a sump located in the floor. The sump existed for over 20 years. Approximately 10 gallons of sludge was generated from the solvent recycling process filters each week.
In 1989, an inspection concluded that it is probable that numerous organic solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons had been released to the subsurface from Nu-Way. Therefore, a Site Hazard Assessment (SHA) was recommended.
While conducting the SHA, Ecology found the site to be in poor condition. Leakage from a dry cleaning machine with staining of the concrete floor in the dry cleaning room was noted during the inspection. The sump which receives drainage from the floor was in poor condition. A soil sample revealed acetone, PCE, and other contaminants. An underground storage tank used for solvent was also found on the site.
After the SHA, the Site was ranked a “1” on the Hazardous Sites List. The Hazardous Sites List is a statewide list of contaminated properties. Sites can be ranked from a “1” to “5”. A rank of “1” is the highest level of environmental concern compared to other sites on the List, and a rank of “5” is the lowest.
What's Been Done?
Ecology issued Nu Way an Enforcement Order on September 30, 1994.
It required Nu Way to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RIFS).
It required Nu Way to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RIFS).
What's Happening Now?
Documents 20
Legal 5
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Nu Way Dry Cleaners RI/FS EO No. DE 94TC-C417 | 9/30/1994 | Enforcement Order |
| Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 Amendment | 1/28/1993 | Enforcement Order |
| Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 Amendment | 2/28/1992 | Enforcement Order |
| Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 | 2/11/1992 | Enforcement Order |
| Nu Way Cleaners PLP ltr | 10/23/1991 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Public Information 2
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Spanish Paxton Sales & Nu Way RI/FS fact sheet | 10/3/1994 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
| Paxton Sales & Nu Way RI/FS factsheet | 10/3/1994 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Technical Reports 13
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Yakima Railroad Area PCE Groundwater Quality Monitoring Data Summary 2021 | 5/1/2023 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| Yakima Railroad Area PCE Groundwater Monitoring Data Summary 2018 - 2020 | 4/1/2022 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| Nu Way Cleaners - Site Closure - Spanish | 10/20/2020 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
| Nu Way Cleaners - Site Closure | 10/20/2020 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
| Nu-Way Dry Cleaners - Groundwater Sampling 4/22/2019 - 4/26/2019 | 4/16/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
| Yakima Railroad Area PCE Groundwater Monitoring Data Summary 2017 | 7/1/2018 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water program EO Dismissal Memo | 2/7/2018 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
| Yakima Railroad Area PCE Groundwater Monitoring Data Summary 2014 - 2015 | 7/1/2016 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| YRRA Groundwater Quality Performance Monitoring 2013 | 10/1/2014 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| Nu Way Cleaners RI/FS | 6/30/1996 | Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study |
| Nu Way Cleaners SHA Results Notification | 8/16/1991 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
| Nu Way Cleaners - Site Hazard Assessment | 8/12/1991 | Site Hazard Assessment Report |
| Nu Way Cleaners Site Inspection rpt | 1/16/1990 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.
Places to see print documents
-
Central Regional Office1250 W Alder StUnion Gap, 98903-0009Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
Contaminants 2
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified | C | C | ||||
| Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Solvents | C | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.