Wolfe & Parks Properties

Environmental cleanup is complete at the site and the second periodic review shows the cleanup work remains effective in protecting the health of people and the environment. 

In 2003, petroleum-contaminated soil was found at the site. To clean it up, contaminated soil was removed, and contaminated groundwater was treated. Some of the contaminated soil could not be excavated without risking damage to buildings. So some contaminated soil remains there, where it is covered by buildings and pavement. 

In 2011, an environmental covenant was filed with the county because some contamination remains at the site. The covenenat prohibits any activity that may result in the release or exposure to the contamination or that creates a new exposure pathway without prior approval from Ecology. With the covenant in place, Ecology periodically reviews conditions about every five years to ensure continued long-term effectiveness of the cleanup action. 

Ecology visited the site on July 16, 2021. The buildings and pavement at the site contiue to eliminate exposure pathways (ingestion, skin contact) to contaminated soil. The buildings and pavement appear in satisfactory condition and no repair, maintenance, or contingency actions have been required. 

From January 26 to February 27, 2023, Ecology held a comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on conditions at the site. No comments were received to suggest changing anything in the draft report and we finalized the second periodic review report. 

The Wolfe and Parks Properties site is located at 149 and 167 E Main Avenue in Morton. The one-acre site was a bulk fuel storage facility, originally owned by Standard Oil and later Chevron Texaco. The facility operated from 1924 to the late 1970s. It stored gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and heating oil.

Around 1981, the above-ground storage tanks, piping, and distribution system were removed from the site. Afterwards, the parcels were sold. 

Now there is a thrift store at the site, and a restored railway depot that was moved to the site from a different location.  

In 2003, the Lewis County Health Department and Ecology identified petroleum-contaminated soil at several locations at the site. 

To clean up the site:

• Two heating oil tanks were removed and associated stained soil was excavated.

• About 1,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated, including soil containing benzene above the cleanup level. This prevented the potential risk of benzene vapors moving from the soil into buildings or the environment. The contaminated soil was taken to a facility for treatment and disposal. 
• Excavations were filled with clean soil.
• About 9,700 square feet of area was paved with asphalt to cover the remaining contaminated soil that was not removed. 

Some contaminated soil was left at the site because removing it would have threatened stability of buildings on the site. The asphalt pavement covering the remaining contaminated soil prevents people and the environment from being exposed to the contamination.   

Groundwater encountered during the excavation was treated with an oxygenating material to increase the rate micro-organisms break down the contamination. There are no drinking wells at the site. The buildings are hooked-up to the municipal water system.

After the cleanup, a long-term groundwater monitoring plan verified over time that contaminant concentrations in groundwater decreased. The petroleum concentrations left in soil do not appear to be adding to the groundwater contamination. 

An environmental covenant was filed with the county in 2011.  Among the convenant's restrictions, it prohibits extracting groundwater at the site for any use. Any activities that could result in the release of contaminants that remain at the site are prohibited without prior written approval by Ecology. 

Based on the periodic review, Ecology determined the cleanup actions at the site protect human health and the environment. It is the property owner's responsibility to continue to inspect the site and assure the surface covering contaminated soil is maintained.