Sundberg Gravel Pit

This site is being cleaned up under Washington’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). For more information about the MTCA process, visit Ecology’s cleanup process webpage.

The Department of Ecology is overseeing a cleanup of the Sundberg Gravel Pit site, located in Olympia. Green Cove Park LLC is the potentially liable party (PLP) who is conducting and paying for the cleanup.

Cleanup is being conducted through a legal agreement, Agreed Order DE 21913 (download 48.8MB), between Ecology and Green Cove. This agreement was signed on February 13, 2025.

Last Update: March 25, 2026

This cleanup is currently in the “study the site” step of cleanup. Green Cove hired consultants to conduct the sampling work. Ecology closely oversees all sampling work, data collection, and analysis. Data being collected now will help us understand the types and extent of contamination at the site. It will also allow us to establish a baseline for site conditions.

In 2025, Green Cove completed Phase 1 of the investigation. Data and findings from this phase were presented to us in the Groundwater Monitoring Well Network Evaluation Report (download 232KB). After reviewing this report, Ecology determined additional phases of investigation are needed. We are now starting work on additional phases of investigation. Ecology expects it will take one to two more years to complete the site investigation (“study the site”).

Image Description
The steps of Washington's cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act. The Sundberg site is currently in the “study the site” step of cleanup.

From August 16 to September 16, 2024, Ecology held a public comment period on the site’s Agreed Order and Public Participation Plan. Ecology produced a fact sheet (download 305KB) that summarizes the documents. During this 30-day period, we received 43 comments.

Ecology reviewed and considered the public comments received. Based on our review of comments, we found that no major changes were needed to the Agreed Order and Public Participation Plan. However, the comments received and data gathered under the Agreed Order’s sampling plan have informed current and future phases of investigative work.

Some key areas where public feedback was considered include:

• Additional sampling of stormwater. Stormwater concerns were made very clear. Ecology also saw data that indicated surface water contamination. Public concerns and data findings influenced Ecology to pursue stormwater sampling.
• Additional sampling of the deeper aquifer. Data collected at the site show there is potentially deeper contamination at the site. The strong public response and concern about testing the deeper aquifer also was taken into consideration. Based on the concerns shared and the data collected so far, we are going to pursue deeper aquifer testing.

More information about how Ecology has incorporated public feedback and collected data can be found in the 2026 Responsiveness Summary (download 2.5MB).

The site is about 51 acres located on the east side of Cooper Point Road between 20th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW. The site was an old gravel mine and log storage yard. Fill material was brought to the site after mining ended. Some areas were filled with soil, construction and woody debris, and large logs.

Based on petroleum-contaminated soil at the site, we added it to the Contaminated Sites List in 2020. This list contains information about sites that are undergoing cleanup and sites that are awaiting further investigation and/or cleanup.

Petroleum may have entered the soil from leaks or burial. Other toxic material may have been buried or dumped at the site. Data being collected now will help us determine the nature and extent of contamination at the site.

Underground Storage Tanks
In 1993, a 12,000-gallon diesel underground storage tank was removed. Petroleum-contaminated soil found near the tank may have been from spills or overfilling. Petroleum-contaminated soil was stored on-site, but it is unknown whether the contaminated soil was treated or removed for disposal.

A 500-gallon above ground storage tank found on the site did not have secondary containment to capture any potential spills or leaks.

To receive Ecology updates regarding the Sundberg Gravel Pit cleanup, you can sign up for updates by clicking the blue “Subscribe to this site” button at the top right corner of this page. Subscribers receive a weekly automated email whenever there’s an open comment period, a new document, or other cleanup news. You can read more about this feature on Ecology's blog.