Facility Site ID: 87761647 Cleanup Site ID: 16581

  • Site Status

  • Cleanup Started

Current Status

Lower Issaquah Valley PFAS cleanup sites [click to enlarge]
Lower Issaquah Valley PFAS cleanup sites [click to enlarge]

Last Updated: September 2024

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Ecology held a 45-day comment period (April 22 - June 6, 2024) for review of documents related to the following two cleanup sites in the Lower Issaquah Valley in King County.

  1. EFR HQ IVES (Eastside Fire & Rescue Headquarters and Issaquah Valley Elementary School)
  2. Rainier Trail & Memorial Field

Ecology also held an online meeting on Wednesday, May 1, and an in-person meeting on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to provide project information and answer questions.

These sites were identified due to releases of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to soil and groundwater. Investigations determined the likely source of PFAS is firefighting foam formerly used at the sites during lawful training activities. The potentially liable persons (PLPs) for the releases include the City of Issaquah (City) and Eastside Fire & Rescue (EF&R).

The following site documents were available for review and comment:

  • An Agreed Order (legal agreement) for each site (Agreed Order EFR HQ IVESAgreed Order RT&MF): legal document that requires the City and EF&R to investigate environmental conditions, complete a Remedial Investigation, Feasibility Study, and a draft Cleanup Action Plan. 
  • A combined Public Participation Plan for both sites: describes how Ecology will inform the community about site activities and ways to become involved.
Ecology has reviewed and considered the public comments received on the legal agreements and Public Participation Plan. Based on Ecology's evaluation of the comments, no changes to the documents were necessary, and both will be finalized.

View the Response to Comments summary document.

What Happens Next?

  • 2024 through 2025: Complete studies of the sites (remedial investigations).
  • 2025 through 2026: Initiate potential interim action(s) and consider options for cleanup (feasibility studies) for each site. 
  • 2027 and beyond: Plan the cleanup (cleanup action plan), design the cleanup (engineering design), and implement the cleanup. Monitor, maintain, and review the sites.

Legal agreements, interim actions, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and cleanup action plans will be available for public review and comment as described in the Public Participation Plan.

Sign Up For Updates!

Join our email list to receive updates about the Lower Issaquah Valley PFAS cleanup sites. Email Kristen Forkeutis, Public Involvement Coordinator, at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov to be added to the list. Unsubscribe at any time.

General Cleanup Process

Click graphic to enlarge
Click graphic to enlarge

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology enacts the MTCA and oversees cleanups.

The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps (see graphic) over a variable timeline.

Public Participation

Draft Lower Issaquah Valley PFAS sites Public Participation Plan 

This plan includes information for the public regarding opportunities to get involved in the cleanup process. The outreach activities and mechanisms presented reflect Ecology’s current plans for keeping the public informed and for receiving information and comments from the public. 

Background

Issaquah Valley and vicinity map with two cleanup sites [click to enlarge]
Issaquah Valley and vicinity map with two cleanup sites [click to enlarge]
The Lower Issaquah Valley is located east of Seattle. The valley extends from the south end of Lake Sammamish approximately 2.5 miles southeast and ranges in elevation from 40 to 160 feet above mean sea level. Issaquah Creek generally runs north through the valley and discharges to Lake Sammamish. The City of Issaquah is in the northern portion of the valley. The City of Issaquah Water Service Area supply is derived from 4 production wells located throughout the valley and from a regional supply. 

The City of Issaquah became aware of PFAS in one water supply well in October 2015. The City ensured that the well was either turned off or pumping at a reduced rate. A granular activated carbon filtration (GAC) system was then installed, and the well was returned to regular service. The GAC system reduces PFAS concentrations to levels that are undetectable by state and federal compliance sampling methods. The City of Issaquah Water Service Area continues to meet safe drinking water levels. 

PFAS has also been detected in some water supply wells operated by Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District (SP Water). Wells with the highest PFAS levels were removed from service in 2017 and SP Water continues to meet safe drinking water levels. SP Water is advancing efforts to design and build a water treatment facility to remove PFAS from its impacted wells. 

A source of PFAS contamination to soil and groundwater can be residual firefighting foam. Investigation of some of the potential sources identified four training areas where firefighting foam was used/deployed. PFAS has been detected in soil and groundwater at these sites. PFAS is transported via groundwater flow. Data collected to date indicate that it’s safe for people and pets to touch the soil. 

Contamination

What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. PFAS is a family of manufactured chemicals which have been used since the 1940s and are in many industrial and consumer products because of their unique and useful chemical properties. They are used in firefighting foam and a wide range of consumer products including carpets, clothing, cookware, paper, and packaging. 

Why are we concerned about PFAS?
Due to their unique and useful chemical properties, PFAS do not degrade or break down naturally in the environment and can accumulate over time. For this reason, PFAS are sometimes called “forever chemicals.” Some PFAS are toxic to laboratory animals and have the potential to impact people’s health. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are the experts on drinking water and public health. You can learn more about PFAS health concerns at doh.wa.gov/pfas.  

Are PFAS regulated?

In 2021, Washington State implemented state action levels (SALs) for five PFAS chemicals. The SALs are recommended state limits for individual PFAS chemicals in the drinking water. The SALs were set by the Washington State Board of Health with support from the DOH. The SALs require Group A public water systems to test their drinking water by the end of 2025. Group A public water systems generally include at least 15 connections or serve at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days per year. If testing indicates drinking water levels exceed the SALs, the public water systems must inform their customers. 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS on April 10, 2024.  

Where can I learn more about PFAS?

Additional links about PFAS are listed below. 

Requesting Accommodation

To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6831, email ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or visit ecology.wa.gov/Accessibility. For Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.

If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.
Legal 5
Document Title Document Date Document Type
EFR HQ IVES - Draft Agreed Order with Exhibits - April 2024 4/17/2024 Agreed Order
Final PLP Letter for EFR HQ IVES and Rainier Trail / Memorial Field to City of Issaquah 12/11/2023 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
Final PLP Letter for EFR HQ IVES and Memorial Field to Eastside Fire & Rescue 12/11/2023 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
Issaquah Valley Elementary School & Dodd Fields Park - Early Notice Letter 4/14/2022 Early Notice Letter
Eastside Fire & Rescue HQ - Early Notice Letter 4/14/2022 Early Notice Letter
Public Information 8
Technical Reports 35
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Groundwater Flow and Fate and Transport Model Calibration Report, Lower Issaquah Valley 7/1/2023 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Joint Response to Preliminary Determination of Liability 3/27/2023 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Preliminary Determination of Liability for Release, Eastside Fire & Rescue 1/11/2023 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Preliminary Determination of Liability for Release, City of Issaquah 1/11/2023 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Well Installation Completion Report, Lower Issaquah Valley 1/1/2023 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Regional Conceptual Hydrogeological Model, Lower Issaquah Valley 12/30/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Preliminary Groundwater Flow Model Calibration, Lower Issaquah Valley 12/30/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Data Gaps Investigation Work Plan Addendum 1 - Hydrogeological Characterization Well Installation, Lower Issaquah Valley 11/1/2022 Sampling and Analysis Plan
PFAS Pilot Test Summary Report 7/29/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Cultural resources review activities, Lower Issaquah Valley PFAS project 7/26/2022 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
PFAS Data Gap Investigation Work Plan, Issaquah, WA 7/15/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Plan and Procedures for the Unanticipated Discovery of Cultural Resources and Human Skeletal Remains 6/24/2022 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Interagency Agreement C2200183 between Ecology and City of Issaquah 4/13/2022 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Interagency Agreement C2200169 between Ecology and EFR 3/28/2022 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Issaquah Valley Elementary School & Dodd Fields Park - Initial Investigation Field Report 1/21/2022 Initial Investigation Report
Eastside Fire & Rescue Headquarters - Initial Investigation Field Report 1/21/2022 Initial Investigation Report
Groundwater Flow and PFAS Transport Modelling Report 9/13/2021 Site Specific Technical Document - other
PFAS Characterization Study Work Plan Addendum, Pilot Test, 175 Newport Way NE, Issaquah, WA 7/6/2021 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Potential source evaluation, Lower Issaquah Valley additional PFAS characterization study 4/15/2021 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Farallon's Lower Issaquah Valley Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Additional Characterization Study Summary Report (no appendices) 4/14/2021 Site Specific Technical Document - other
PFAS Source Remedial Action Plan, 175 Newport Way NE, Issaquah, WA 4/7/2021 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Interagency Agreement C2100056 between Ecology and EFR 3/29/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
PFAS Characterization Study Work Plan Addendum, Issaquah, WA 4/3/2020 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Plan and Procedures for the Unanticipated Discovery of Cultural Resources and Human Skeletal Remains 2/6/2020 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Interagency Agreement C200069 between Ecology and City of Issaquah 12/17/2019 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Interagency Agreement C200071 between Ecology and EFR 11/26/2019 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Farallon's Lower Issaquah Valley Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Characterization Study Summary Report (no appendices) 3/27/2019 Site Specific Technical Document - other
PFAS Characterization Study, Work Plan, Issaquah, WA 8/1/2018 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Interagency Agreement C1800181 between Ecology and EFR 7/9/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Investigatory Levels for PFAS - No Longer Used 2/9/2018 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Remediating PFAS in Issaquah water supplies 9/13/2017 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
PFAS contamination and recommended action 1/25/2017 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Hydrogeological Characterization Report, Issaquah, Washington 11/1/2016 Site Specific Technical Document - other
USEPA Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) 5/1/2016 Site Specific Technical Document - other
USEPA Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) 5/1/2016 Site Specific Technical Document - other
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

  • Northwest Regional Office
    15700 Dayton Ave N
    Shoreline, 98133
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
  • King County Library - Issaquah Library
    10 W Sunset Way
    Issaquah, 98027
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 4

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline B
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Other B
Halogenated Organics - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) C 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.