Grant County Ephrata Landfill 1

Facility Site ID: 592 Cleanup Site ID: 1692

  • Site Status

  • Cleanup Started

Agreed Order Amendment Negotiations Underway

Ecology and the two parties responsible for cleanup, Grant County and the City of Ephrata, began negotiating the third amendment to the agreed order on June 13, 2023. Negotiations will last for 60 days.

In the draft amendment, we are proposing more testing of the multi-phase extraction (MPE) system that removes contaminants from soil and groundwater. System testing began in one area of the landfill in 2017, and it was successful, so we would like MPE to be expanded in the first area and tested in another area to see if it should be used in both areas in the final cleanup plan.

In 2018, the groundwater monitoring area was expanded to better understand the MPE test results and where contamination was in groundwater. The proposed amendment to the agreed order includes evaluating this monitoring data and recommending additional monitoring. The parties responsible will also evaluate to what degree contaminants are naturally degrading.

Site History

Ecology and the two parties responsible for cleanup, Grant County and the City of Ephrata, have negotiated an agreed order for cleanup work at the Grant County Ephrata Landfill 1. The order includes an interim remedial action plan outlining cleanup that will be completed before the remedial investigation/feasibility study to guide final cleanup.

The City of Ephrata began operating the Ephrata Landfill around 1942 and owned and managed it until 1974. Grant County has managed the landfill since 1974. The landfill was an open dump before 1962. Waste was put into an unlined cell until a new, lined cell with leak containment opened in 2005, which still accepts waste.

About 2,000 drums of industrial waste were buried in August 1975. The Environmental Protection Agency added the landfill to the list of potential hazardous sites in 1979. Ecology completed a Phase I site investigation in 1987, and groundwater sampling began in 1988. In 1990, contaminants, including metals, solvents, and other chemicals, were found in groundwater.

Cleanup

Since 2007, the site has had ongoing investigation into the extent of contamination, and the parties responsible have completed a number of interim cleanup actions.

2008: Drum removal

All 2,353 drums of industrial waste were removed from the north end of the landfill. Forty-six drums were empty, and 1,038 drums were partially empty. Most drums contained liquid, but some had solid material. Leaking was noted in 209 drums as they were pulled from the ground. Moderate-to-heavy damage was noted on 1,579 drums. Samples from the drums went to a lab for analyses before disposal. Most of the drums were placed in overpacks before shipment to an incinerator in Aragonite, Utah. Contaminated soil and spilled drum contents that were hazardous waste were sent to a disposal facility. Photos of the drum removal are available on Ecology's Flickr account.

Contaminated water pooled in the bottom of the excavation. Volatile organic compounds in the water included methylene chloride, acetone, 1,1-dichloroethane, 2-butanone, MIBK, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylenes. Contractors made sumps to drain the liquid. Over 6,000 gallons of water were removed. The contaminated water was stored in a tank on-site and then transported to a disposal facility.

2009: Landfill capping

A protective cap was completed over the old cell, including the area where the drums of industrial waste used to be buried. This cap keeps rain and snow melt from infiltrating contaminated soil.

2012: Soil removed from north end

Contaminated soil from the Neva Lake Road extension was removed in November and December 2012. After, the consultants for the parties responsible for cleanup decided more work was needed to complete the feasibility study, so the deadline was changed to June 30, 2017.

2017: Pilot system installed to remove soil contamination

The multi-phase extraction (MPE) pilot test started on May 23, 2017, and continued for 4.5 months. The purpose of the test was to evaluate its ability to treat contaminants in groundwater and soil. Work included installing several new extraction and observation wells, piping, contaminated vapor and liquid treatment systems, and an evaporation pond.

A total of 87,000 gallons of groundwater were extracted, treated, and disposed. A total of 7,100,000 cubic feet of vapor were extracted, treated, and vented. The pilot test showed that a full MPE system should have 6-inch wells spaced no more than 40 feet apart, should be operated at a low vacuum, and additional liquid treatment steps should be considered.

2018: More soil removed from north end and investigation work continues

In February 2018, 25 test pits were sampled in the area where contaminated soil was removed in 2012. The sampling found an area of arsenic-contaminated soil. The area was excavated to bedrock, and approximately 1,210 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed.

In late 2018, one of the parties responsible for cleanup hired new technical consultants. After reviewing the cleanup work at the landfill, they decided the complex hydrogeology of the area needed more characterization before the feasibility study is completed. Eighty-one new wells began being drilled in September 2019. After information from the wells is reviewed, they will decide whether more is needed or if the feasibility study can be completed.

Next Steps

When the draft remedial investigation and feasibility study are complete, they will be available for public review and comment. The remedial investigation documents the extent and locations of contamination, and the feasibility study presents options for final cleanup.
Legal 9
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Agreed Order Second Amendment, Ephrata Landfill 1/19/2016 Agreed Order Amendment
Agreed Order amendment - Exhibit A 10/22/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Agreed Order amendment 10/22/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Agreed Order amendment - Exhibit B (Interim Remedial Action Plan for Contaminated Soil Removal) 10/10/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Agreed Order amendment - Exhibit B, Appendix A 7/2/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Agreed Order Revised Schedule, #6 2/28/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Schedule change #6 2/28/2012 Agreed Order
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Agreed Order Revised Schedule 12/17/2010 Agreed Order Amendment
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Agreed Order 9/29/2006 Agreed Order
Public Information 10
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Fact Sheet - Soil Removal Interim Action (Russian) 10/22/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Fact Sheet - Soil Removal Interim Action (Spanish) 10/22/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Fact Sheet - Soil Removal Interim Action (English) 10/22/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Public Participation Plan for Ephrata Landfill 10/10/2007 Public Participation Plan
Ephrata Landfill Responsiveness Summary AO for RI/FS 3/26/2007 Responsiveness Summary
Ephrata Landfill Public invited to discuss cleanup work at Ephrata Landfill 2/1/2007 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Ephrata Landfill Agreement reached on Ephrata Landfill cleanup 12/27/2006 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Spanish Ephrata Landfill Fact Sheet AO SEPA DNS 12/1/2006 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Russian Ephrata Landfill Fact Sheet AO SEPA DNS 12/1/2006 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Ephrata Landfill Fact Sheet AO SEPA DNS 12/1/2006 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
State Environmental Policy Act 2
Document Title Document Date Document Type
SEPA DNS - soil removal interim action 10/22/2012 SEPA Documents
SEPA checklist - soil removal interim action 9/12/2012 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 14
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Grant County Ephrata Landfill 1 - City of Ephrata Supplemental Allocation Letter to Ecology 2/21/2024 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Grant County Ephrata Landfill 1 - City of Ephrata Allocation Letter to Ecology 2/7/2024 Site Specific Technical Document - other
North End Supplemental Investigation, Phase 1, Ephrata Landfill 6/6/2019 Remedial Investigation Work Plan
Ephrata Landfill Feasibility Study_Revised Agency Draft 3/30/2018 Feasibility Study
Addendum to Results of IR: Elevated Arsenic Soil Sampling and Removal 3/16/2018 Interim Action Documents
Multi-Phase Extraction Pilot Test, IRA, Ephrata Landfill 2/22/2018 Interim Action Documents
Ephrata Landfill_Remedial Investigation_Addendum 2 12/22/2017 Remedial Investigation Report
Interim Remedial Action Plan Supplement, Ephrata Landfill Corrective Action, Pilot Test of Multi-Phase Extraction (MPE) and Additional Monitoring Wells 9/1/2015 Interim Action Documents
Results of Interim Remedial Action (Ephrata Landfill Corrective Action): Contaminated Soil Removal and Confirmation Sampling for the Neva Lake Road Extension 1/24/2013 Interim Action Documents
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Ephrata Landfill Feasibility Study (Agency Review Draft) 8/31/2012 Feasibility Study
Grant County Ephrata Landfill: Remedial Investigation Addendum 8/28/2012 Remedial Investigation Report
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Department of Health Consultation 3/24/2011 Human Health and/or Eco Risk Assessment
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Preliminary Draft Remedial Investigation Report 12/10/2010 Remedial Investigation Report
Grant County Ephrata Landfill - Drum Samples Analytical Report 3/12/2007 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

  • 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
Non-Halogenated Organics - Non-Halogenated Solvents 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.