Fifth Wheel Truck Repair

The Fifth Wheel Truck Repair site is the location of a heavy truck repair shop. A shop building, divided into two tenant spaces, is located on the property associated with the site. Businesses that have operated at the site location include a heavy truck repair shop and an auto body shop. Potential sources of contamination are hazardous substances entering a former dry wells and waste water sumps located at the interior and exterior of the building. 

The drywell was removed in 1991. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and perchloroethylene were revealed in the dry well. Most of the contaminated soil was excavated down to 12 feet below ground surface. The soil was lawfully disposed of in a local landfill and the drywell was backfilled with clean structural fill. 

TPH is a mixture of many different chemicals and originates from crude oil, which is used to make petroleum products, such as fuel oils, gasoline, and solvents. 

Exposure to TPH can be from air, chemical use, soil, or water. TPH can affect the blood, eyes, immune system, kidneys, liver, lungs, nervous system, skin, as well as unborn children.  There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

More information about potential sources of TPH and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.

After a Site Hazard Assessment, the Site was ranked a “3” on the Hazardous Sites List. The Hazardous Sites List is a statewide list of contaminated properties. Sites can be ranked from a “1” to “5”.  A rank of “1” is the highest level of environmental concern compared to other sites on the List, and a rank of “5” is the lowest.

This site is a part of the Yakima Railroad Area (YRRA). The Yakima Railroad Area is approximately six square miles in size and includes parts of the cities of Yakima and Union Gap. The Yakima Railroad Area groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC) from past industrial use, and is centered around the railroad/industrial corridor of the greater Yakima area.

PCE is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing. It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.

Exposure to PCE can be from the air, chemical use, soil, or water.  PCE can affect the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and reproductive system, as well as unborn children. There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

More information about potential sources of PCE and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.

Contaminated soil was removed and disposed of through a series of remedial investigations and interim actions from 1989 into the 2000s. Most of the contaminated soil was excavated down to 12 feet below ground surface. The soil was lawfully disposed of in a local landfill and the drywell was backfilled with clean structural fill. Subsequent investigation, soil samples, and groundwater samples indicate remedial actions have sufficiently removed the contaminant source.