Facility Site ID: 11445
Cleanup Site ID: 13026

Independent Cleanup Complete

Map of areas cleaned up and redeveloped 2016-21.
Map of areas cleaned up and redeveloped 2016-21.

In April 2017, we agreed that the City of Spokane's plan to clean up contaminated soil at Riverfront Park met state requirements (view opinion letter). The cleanup was part of a redevelopment project at the park. 

As soil was disturbed during redevelopment, it was sampled to determine if it was contaminated, impacted, or clean. Contaminated soil has levels of pollution that require cleanup under Washington law. Impacted soil has some contamination but not at levels requiring cleanup. Clean soil doesn't have any detectable contamination.

Contaminated soil was disposed off-site at an approved landfill. Impacted soil could be placed under buildings, structures, roads, or landscaping that provides a barrier. There are no restrictions on the reuse of clean soil.

Soil Contaminants

Park map prior to 2016-21 cleanup and redevelopment.
Park map prior to 2016-21 cleanup and redevelopment.

Due to past industrial activities, soil was contaminated with petroleum, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals.

While these contaminants required cleanup when disturbed, park visitors were not exposed to them because of fill material used during park construction and ground coverings such as grass and asphalt.

Because some contamination remains under ground coverings, we filed an environmental covenant to document it.

Site History

Prior to becoming Riverfront Park for Expo 1974, the property was developed in the late 1870s and primarily used for mixed industrial uses and railroad activities. Many of the historical areas were covered with fill as part of park construction, and impacts from industrial activities were not investigated during the construction in 1973.

Voluntary Cleanup Program

This site was cleaned up under 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 the sites Ecology manages under legal orders.

Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect

Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.

Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 7266826
County Recording Date: 2/7/2023

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Control Stormwater
  • Ongoing Maintenance of Remedy
  • Prevent the Reuse or Relocation of Site Soil
  • Prohibit New Building Construction
  • Prohibit Removal or Alteration of Existing Buildings
  • Prohibit Soil Disturbance

Restricted Media

  • Soil
No documents found.
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 5

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals - Other RB
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons RB
Metals - Arsenic RB
Metals - Lead RB
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel RB
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.