Robys Services

Roby’s Services (Roby's) is the location of a former service station. In 1993, workers digging near the streets to install new sewer lines found petroleum contamination in the soil. In 1997, Ecology conducted an initial investigation, which showed petroleum contamination above state cleanup levels for both soil and groundwater. The contamination is believed to have come from leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) at Roby’s.

Roby’s was on Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of “3”. Sites on the Hazardous Sites List were a priority for Ecology, and had completed a Site Hazard Assessment (SHA). A SHA provided information about the environmental risk of the site. Risk is based on the amount of contaminants, how toxic they are, and how easily they can come in contact with people and the environment. Sites were ranked relative to each other on a scale of “1” to “5”; with a rank of “5” being the lowest.

Roby’s Services operated as a gas station and auto repair facility in Buena from the 1950s until approximately 2003. During a sewer system upgrade for the town in 1993, petroleum contamination was discovered at several sites within Buena, including Roby’s Services. Ecology conducted soil and groundwater studies that included soil testing and the installation of 12 monitoring wells throughout the town of Buena to test groundwater. Five underground storage tanks (USTs) and their associated piping were dug up and removed by Ecology in 2001. Contaminated soils were found in the excavated tank pit. 
 
In 2011, Ecology removed many site structures and concrete, and pumped out a waste oil tank. Laboratory tests of the waste oil showed the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead. In 2012, the empty waste oil tank and the surrounding contaminated soil were dug up and removed from the site, and the pit was backfilled with clean fill.
 
About 2,500 tons of soil and 122 tons of concrete debris were removed from the site and disposed of properly. Any remaining contaminated soil was addressed by adding a compound that helps enhance breakdown of the remaining petroleum contamination. Testing showed any residual soil contamination was not impacting groundwater beneath the site. A barrier of native soil and vegetation limits people’s exposure to any potential contamination.

Based upon cleanup activities and the recording of the environmental covenant, Ecology determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. Ecology issued a No Further Action determination and the site was removed from the Hazardous Sites List in August 2016.

Ecology conducts periodic reviews every 5 years at sites that have institutional controls. The review is intended to examine the effectiveness of cleanup activities and to assure the continued protection of human health and the environment.

Periodic review results

The cleanup actions completed at the site are protective of human health and the environment.

Soil cleanup levels have not been met at the site; however, the cleanup action is determined to comply with cleanup standards under WAC 173-340-740(6)(f), since the long-term integrity of the containment system is ensured and the requirements for containment technologies have been met.

The environmental covenant for the site is in place and will be effective in protecting public health and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances and protecting the integrity of the cleanup action.

Based on the five-year review, Ecology has determined that the requirements of the environmental covenant are being followed. No additional remedial actions are required by the property owner. It is the property owner’s responsibility to continue to inspect the site to assure that the integrity of the cap is maintained.

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