Stevens Pass Mini Mart Station

The Stevens Pass Ski Area operates on two areas of U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) land (a total of 2,463 acres), pursuant to a special use permit issued by the Forest Service as well as on a 32-acre privately held parcel referred to as Yodelin.

An April 2010 Phase I environmental site assessment and May 2010 a Phase II assessment reported contamination in two areas, the former Stevens Pass Mini Mart Station site and Stevens Pass Ski Resort Vehicle Maintenance Facility site.

At the Stevens Pass Mini Mart Station site a gas station was constructed on the subject property, along the northern side of Highway 2, in 1960 and it operated until 1971. At one time, a gasoline aboveground storage tank (AST) and an oil AST were located behind the station building. In 1964, five underground storage tanks (USTs) were installed at the station. Two of the tanks contained heating oil, one contained leaded gasoline, one contained unleaded gasoline, and one contained waste oil. All five of these USTs were reportedly removed. The station building was demolished in 1998.
 
In 1948, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) constructed a building to the northeast of the future Mini Mart station area that was used for vehicle maintenance. WSDOT operated the maintenance facility until 1968, when most of the building was demolished. From 1968 to 1980, Stevens Pass used the remaining portion of the building for vehicle maintenance. The remaining building still exists, but is only used by Stevens Pass for Parking and Transit Operations offices and equipment/supply storage.

A remedial action was conducted at the site from August through November 2011. About 17,000 tons of soil were removed from both the southern and northern excavations. Over 400,000 gallons of groundwater within the excavation were treated using carbon adsorption and re-infiltrated onsite.

Contaminated soil remains at several locations adjacent to and underneath structures at this site; these areas have been capped with either 8” concrete or 6” of asphalt. Groundwater monitoring was performed from November 2011 thru August 2012 to confirm cleanup. An environmental covenant has been placed on the property identifying locations on the property impacted with total petroleum hydrocarbons above cleanup levels.

Based upon cleanup activities and the recording of the environmental covenant, Ecology has determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. Ecology made a no further action determination in March 2013.

Periodic reviews are conducted every 5 years by Ecology for sites that have institutional controls. The review is intended to examine the effectiveness of cleanup activities and to assure the continued protection of human health and the environment.

Periodic review results

Based on the site visit conducted in 2018, no repair, maintenance or contingency actions have been required at the site. The excavation conducted during the interim action eliminated the human exposure (ingestion, contact) to contaminated soils. The gravel and concrete caps at the site continue to prevent direct contact with the contaminated soils.

The cleanup action completed at the site is protective of human health and the environment.

Soil cleanup levels have not been met at the site; however, the cleanup action is determined to comply with cleanup standards under WAC 173-340-740(6)(f), since the long-term integrity of the containment system is ensured and the requirements for containment technologies have been met.

The use permit for the site has been fully implemented and is effective in the short term protecting public health and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances and protecting the integrity of the cleanup action.

Based on this five-year review, Ecology has determined that the requirements of the use permit is being followed at the site. No additional remedial actions are required by the property owner. It is the property owner’s responsibility to continue to inspect the site to assure that the integrity of the surface cap is maintained.