Columbia Chrome

4501 E Trent Ave Spokane, Spokane County
Facility Site ID: 35244355 Cleanup Site ID: 3536

More about cleanup

Site Background

Columbia Chrome site
Columbia Chrome site

The Columbia Chrome site is in a commercial and industrial district. The property includes one building, exterior parking, and a storage area.

In 1978, the property was sold to Westmont Tractor. In 1981, GAA Partnership bought the property, which had two occupants/operators: General Truck Equipment (1981 – 1986) and Columbia Chrome (1990 – 1998).

While Columbia Chrome occupied the property, chromium was used in a liquid form for chrome plating. Petroleum products were used in hydraulic repair and lathe operations. Lubricating and hydraulic oils were the primary petroleum products abandoned on site.

During Columbia Chrome's operations, Ecology received several complaints of chromic acid dumping. We visited the site in the late 1990s and found chromium contamination in soil where truck bumpers were plated. Records also indicated that a large quantity of chromic acid spilled from an outside dipping operation or chromic acid loading/transfer overfill. Assorted oils and lubricants in closed drums were stacked inside inadequate secondary containment on unpaved areas, which caused staining of the soil underneath.

Contamination

Chromium, lead, and petroleum products in soil. 

Cleanup Complete

Ecology completed an initial investigation of the site in 1999, which resulted in a septic tank being emptied and its contents disposed at a landfill. From 1999 to 2000, soil was analyzed from suspected areas for contaminants, resulting in 157 tons of contaminated soil being disposed at a landfill. Three dry wells were also tested for contamination, power washed, and vacuumed out.

Final sampling showed chromium, lead, and petroleum contamination remained in some areas, which were capped with clean fill. An environmental covenant was filed in 2001 that prohibits any activity that would release or expose contaminated soil.

Periodic reviews

We have completed three periodic reviews and found that the cleanup remains effective each time. The covenant was being followed, and no contaminated soil had been disturbed. You can learn more in the reports (2010 is not online, but you may see it at the Eastern Regional Office):

Voluntary Cleanup Program

This site was cleaned up under our Voluntary Cleanup Program, which provides technical help to owners of contaminated sites.

Voluntary Cleanup Program customers pay fees to cover our costs for technical help and reviewing cleanup reports. Sites in this program must meet the same cleanup standards as the sites Ecology manages under legal orders.

Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect

Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.

Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 4650465
County Recording Date: 11/1/2001

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Ongoing Maintenance of Remedy
  • Prohibit Soil Disturbance
  • Restrict Land Use

Restricted Media

  • Soil
Places to see print documents
Legal 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Columbia Chrome restrictive covenant 11/1/2001 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Technical Reports 3
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Third Periodic Review: Columbia Chrome 10/19/2022 Periodic Review (5 Year)
Columbia Chrome 10-Year Periodic Review Report 3/8/2016 Periodic Review (5 Year)
Columbia Chrome Periodic Review 7/29/2010 Periodic Review (5 Year)
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 2

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified R
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.