Spokane River Metals Myrtle Point

Facility Site ID: 615198 Cleanup Site ID: 11589

Site Background

Myrtle Point Site before cleanup
Myrtle Point Site before cleanup
Contaminants from historic mining practices in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Basin washed downstream and settled in soil and sediment along some Spokane River beaches.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studied 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 Myrtle Point.

Myrtle Point is on the south side of the Spokane River between river miles 84 and 85, about 2,600 feet downstream of the Trent Avenue Bridge. It covers 0.75 of an acre.

Contamination

The mining-related contaminants include arseniccadmiumlead, and zinc.

Cleanup

Myrtle Point Site after cleanup
Myrtle Point Site after cleanup
Cleanup was completed in 2012:
  • About 84 tons of contaminated sediment was excavated and disposed at the Graham Road landfill in Medical Lake.
  • Remaining metals-contaminated soil was covered with a protective cap to limit exposure to humans and wildlife.
  • The area was replanted with native riparian vegetation.

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.

Public Information 2
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Spokane River Metals Myrtle Point DNS 5/17/2012 SEPA Documents
Spokane River Metals Myrtle Point SEPA Checklist May 2012 3/8/2012 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
90 Percent Design River Sediment Capping Design - Spokane River Metals - Myrtle Point 5/3/2012 Engineering Design Report
There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.

Places to see print documents

  • Eastern Regional Office
    N 4601 Monroe St
    Spokane, 99205-1265
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.

Contaminants 1

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals - Other C
S
Suspected
C
Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
B
Below Cleanup Levels
RA
Remediated-Above
RB
Remediated-Below
R
Remediated
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.