Midas Muffler Ballard

This Site is in the Voluntary Cleanup Program.

Ecology received a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study report on June 3, 2022. We issued an opinion on June 28, 2023, requesting more site characterization.

The site used to be an automotive repair shop. It’s in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, at the southwest corner of 15th Avenue NW and NW 73rd Street. The building is being remodeled for a new tenant.

The contamination at the site is largely due to hydraulic fluid leaks from the vehicle lifts and from surface spills of lube oil during shop operations. The current contaminants of concern are total petroleum hydrocarbons as diesel (TPH-D) and heavy oil (TPH-O), in soil, groundwater, and indoor air.

A total of 11 soil borings and five groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the site in 2020 and 2021. Laboratory analysis from the borings confirmed the soil contamination.

Petroleum-contaminated soil
Workers excavated contaminated soil from within the footprint of the existing building in February 2022. This excavation removed a significant amount of petroleum-contaminated soil. Petroleum-contaminated soil was left in place near and underneath the building’s eastern foundation wall due to structural concerns.

How far does the contamination extend?
We don’t know how far or deep the contamination extends east of the building.

Soil Vapor
Soil vapor samples were collected in April of 2022 from two soil vapor probes. Laboratory analysis for naphthalene and air-phase petroleum hydrocarbon (APH) found concentrations that exceeded the generic Method B soil gas screening level for TPH.

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 over a variable timeline.

What's In My Neighborhood shows contamination cleanup sites in Washington state. Ecology works to clean up these sites to protect the health of people and the environment. Cleanups are construction projects that remove, treat, or contain potentially harmful substances.

To report an environmental problem or concern, any time, day or night, use the online reporting form.

Counties: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom

Email: nwroerts@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 206-594-0000

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