Spokane River Metals Harvard Road
Site Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted studies of the mining contaminants in the Coeur d’Alene Basin and began a wide-spread cleanup of the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Superfund Site. As part of the EPA study and studies Ecology conducted, nine beaches in Washington were cleaned up, including Harvard Road.
The Harvard Road site covers less than 1 acre and lies along the northern bank of the Spokane River. It is almost 3 miles west of the Idaho state line and immediately west of the Harvard Road Bridge.
Cleanup
- Contaminated sediments along the upper portion of the Spokane River bank were removed, and the area was backfilled with clean sand and gravel. Contaminated sediments were disposed of at an approved landfill.
- A protective cap of clean sand and gravel was placed on the lower portion of the river bank where contaminants were not removed. The cap eliminated the exposure pathway for humans and wildlife.
- A new gravel boat launch was installed.
- Gravel mix was placed at important fish habitat locations.
- Signs and physical barriers, such as fences and boulders, were installed to define the launch ramp, parking, and pedestrian access areas.
Ecology completed the first periodic review in 2022. The report is for all the Spokane River shoreline sites affected by mining contaminants. The purposes of the review are to evaluate site conditions about every five years when contaminants are capped and ensure the cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment.
The cleanups continue to protect human health and the environment from the capped contaminated sediments. However, contaminant concentrations have increased in some cases, and new contaminated sediments have been deposited on the caps. This likely means upstream sources are continuing to impact the river and could pose a risk to human health and the environment if they are not controlled.
We will continue monitoring to ensure that the sites continue to be safe for human health and the environment. A monitoring study evaluating sediments entering the site at the Washington-Idaho border would help assess the potential for recontamination.
Documents 9
Public Information 2
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Response to Comments: Periodic Review for the Spokane River Shoreline Metals Sites | 11/10/2022 | Responsiveness Summary |
Fact Sheet Harvard Rd Design Docs, SEPA DNS, and Substantive Requirements | 4/30/2008 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
State Environmental Policy Act 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
SEPA Checklist and DNS | 4/14/2008 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 6
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Periodic Review: Spokane River Shoreline Metals Sites | 9/21/2022 | Periodic Review (5 Year) |
Spokane River Beach Sites 2019 Report | 6/14/2019 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Spokane River Shoreline Sediment Sites Heavy Metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) Post-Remediation Monitoring | 4/1/2015 | Performance/Confirmational Monitoring Plan or Report |
Spokane River Shoreline Sediment Sites Heavy Metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) Monitoring, Sampling and Analysis Plan | 9/1/2013 | Sampling and Analysis Plan |
Spokane River Capping Construction Completion Report | 7/31/2013 | Final Cleanup Action Report |
Construction Specifications and Design Drawings | 4/30/2008 | Construction Plans and Specifications |
Places to see print documents
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Eastern Regional OfficeN 4601 Monroe StSpokane, 99205-1265Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
Contaminants 1
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals - Metals - Other | RB |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated