Caton Limited Purpose Landfill
Site Background
In 2008, following promulgation of Chapter 173-350 WAC, the facility obtained a permit from YHD for the operation of a Limited Purpose Landfill (LPL). The landfill is unlined.
In June 2023, YHD denied the renewal of the Caton Landfill’s operating permit and ordered the facility to cease operations by June 30, 2025. The facility continued to accept waste. The Caton Landfill appealed YHD’s decision to deny permit renewal. A hearing was held in August 2023 and the Hearing Officer ruled in favor of the YHDs decision to deny permit renewal. The Caton Landfill continued to accept waste and appealed the decision to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB). On April 10, 2025, the PCHB ruled in favor of the YHDs decision to deny permit renewal. The Caton Landfill ceased accepting waste on April 14, 2025. The landfill operated for 653 days without a permit.
Fire History
The Caton Landfill has a history of fires. In November 2022, a fire broke out within the waste. It was first reported based on visible smoke emissions. Later open flames broke through the surface on the east flank of the landfill.
The Caton Landfill placed soil on waste over the fire in an attempt to smother the fire. In March 2023, the Caton Landfill determined that the fire was extinguished. However, visual observations by Ecology staff as recently as December 2024 suggest that the fire may still be smoldering.
Waste Characterization And Placement
Ecology staff observed a number of disposal practices that may have resulted in the release of hazardous materials to the environment at the Caton Landfill, including disposal of vehicles, campers, boats, and tires. In addition, Ecology believes that waste was disposed on parcels that were never permitted for waste handling or disposal.
Investigation And Cleanup
Ecology suspects contamination due to potential disposal of hazardous materials, disposal of waste outside permitted areas, disposal of waste without a permit, and as a smoldering subsurface fire.
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Central Region
Counties: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima
Online: Statewide reporting form
Email: croerts@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 509-575-2490
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Documents 1
Technical Reports 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
SHARP Report 04172025 | 4/17/2025 | SHARP Report |
Places to see print documents
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Solid Waste Program - Central Region1250 W Alder StUnion Gap, 98903This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 9
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halogenated Organics - Dioxins/Furans | S | |||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons | S | |||||
Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Organic | S | S | ||||
Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Inorganic | S | S | ||||
Metals - Arsenic | S | S | ||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Benzene | S | S | C | |||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel | S | S | ||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline | S | S | ||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other | S | S |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated