Leichner Brothers Landfill

The Leichner Bothers  Land Reclamantion Corporation (Leichner) site is located at 9411 Northeast 94th Avenue in Vancouver. The property operated as a solid waste landfill from the late-1930s through 1991. Waste was burned at the site until the mid-1960s. From the mid-1960s through 1991, the landfill compacted waste in areas where sand and gravel had been mined. The landfill occupies 70 acres.

Investigations between 1987 and 1991 found that the landfill had contaminated the shallow aquifer (groundwater) under the site. Testing showed elevated levels of inorganics and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In 1987, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued a Consent Order requiring Leichner to investigate site conditions and develop a cleanup plan. Ecology and Leichner entered into a Consent Decree in 1989 for further investigation and interim cleanup work. In 1996, Ecology and Leichner entered into a Consent Decree for the final cleanup actions.

In 1992, the former refuse burning area was investigated as a potential source of hazardous substances. About 68,000 cubic yards of soils were removed from the area and placed in the landfill under a composite cap. The landfill cap, which eliminated direct exposure to contaminated soil, was completed by 1996. It was designed to eliminate infiltration of precipitation into the landfill and direct clean surface runoff into ponds.

From the 1970s through 2007, Leichner installed and upgraded systems to control landfill gas as new technology became available and the amount of landfill gas decreased. Groundwater monitoring has been conducted at the site from 1987 through 2010. VOCs have not been detected since the mid-1990s and concentrations of most inorganics have been decreasing. Groundwater monitoring will continue for the foreseeable future.

In 1998, an environmental covenant was recorded for the site. The covenant prohibits activities that could result in the release of contaminants contained as part of the cleanup without Ecology’s approval. The covenant also requires fencing to restrict public access to the site.

Clark County now owns part of the site and was added to the consent decree. Both Clark County and Leichner are now responsible for operation, maintenance and long term monitoring of the closed landfill.