USAAC Geiger Field GF003

The site is a Yellowstone Pipeline (YPL) Company pipeline easement within a minimum security prison, Geiger Corrections Center. The 3-inch YPL pipeline was constructed in 1968. 

Soil and groundwater contamination resulted from a 1979 release of Jet A turbine fuel from the YPL pipeline. In addition, soil contamination was found when two heating oil underground storage tanks were removed in 1998.

The initial investigation identifying impacts to soil and groundwater was reported to Ecology in October 1991. Ecology sent an Early Notice Letter in January 1992, and a Site Hazard Assessment was completed in February 1992. The site was then listed on the Hazardous Sites List in August 1992 with a ranking of 5. A ranking of 1 represents the highest level of concern, and a ranking of 5 represents the lowest level of concern compared to other known contaminated sites in Washington.

Four investigations have been done at the site, including: 

• Installing 15 permanent groundwater monitoring wells
• Decommissioning 1 permanent groundwater monitoring well
• Excavating soil to better understand the extent of contamination
• Collecting soil and groundwater samples (groundwater samples have been collected on a quarterly to semi-annual frequency since 2001)

The investigations identified concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons as gasoline, diesel, heavy oil, benzene, and naphthalenes that exceeded Washington's standards for soil and/or groundwater.

This site is in our Voluntary Cleanup Program, which provides technical help to owners of contaminated sites.

Voluntary Cleanup Program customers pay fees to cover our costs for technical help and reviewing cleanup reports. Sites in this program must meet the same cleanup standards as sites Ecology manages under legal orders.