Crop King Woods Industries

Facility Site ID: 460 Cleanup Site ID: 3755

What Is The Yakima Railroad Area?

Crop King Woods Industries 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.

Site Description

Crop King, formally known as Woods Industries, Inc., processed pesticides at a facility in Yakima. 

Pesticide manufacturing on this 4 acre site occurred from 1938 until 1985.  

PCE, DDT, DDE, Lindane, and Aldrin are chemicals used in the formulation of pesticides.

Site evaluation showed the presence of these chemicals in the soil and groundwater.

What's Been Done?

In 1985, preliminary soil analysis indicated high concentrations of DDT, DDE, Lindane, and Aldrin. Remedial efforts began under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) oversight. 

An investigation showed PCE in groundwater. Further investigation detected PCE in the soil around the former sump area. Remedial efforts addressed the soil, leaving questions concerning PCE in groundwater.

What's Happening Now?

The property has a covenant on the site restricting the land use, groundwater use, and soil excavation. With filed restrictions and recent groundwater data, the site no longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.

In February 2019, the site was removed from the Hazardous Sites List.

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 #: 7412917
County Recording Date: 8/2/2004

Restrictions/Requirements

  • Restrict All Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
  • Restrict Land Use
  • Restrict soil excavation to top 24 inches below grade at time of covenant

Restricted Media

  • Groundwater
  • Soil
Legal 7
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Crop King Woods Industries - NFA 3/4/2019 NFA Letter – non-VCP
Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water program EO Dismissal Memo 2/7/2018 Order Notice of Satisfaction/Status
Crop King / Woods Industries - Notice of Completion of Removal Action 9/2/2004 Administrative Order on Consent
Crop King Woods Industries Restrictive Covenant 7/23/2004 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 Amendment 1/28/1993 Enforcement Order
Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 Amendment 2/28/1992 Enforcement Order
Yakima Railroad Area Bottled Water EO No. DE 92TC-C108 2/11/1992 Enforcement Order
Public Information 4
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Crop King Woods Industries - Fact Sheet - Spanish 1/17/2019 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Crop King Woods Industries - Fact Sheet 1/17/2019 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Crop King / Woods Industries Fact Sheet June 1993 Fact Sheet 6/24/1993 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Crop King / Woods Industries Fact Sheet March 1993 Fact Sheet 3/1/1993 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Technical Reports 10
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Crop King Woods Industries - Site Status Memo 8/17/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Crop King Woods Industries - Site Status Memo 2/5/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence)
Crop King / Woods Soil Removal Report Volume 1 (Appendices E - E3) 8/7/1996 Remedial Action Report
Crop King / Woods Soil Removal Report Volume 1 (Report Text) 8/7/1996 Remedial Action Report
Crop King / Woods Soil Treatment Final Report Volume 1 (Appendices A - D) 8/7/1996 Remedial Action Report
Crop King / Woods Industries Thermal Desorption Work Plan Vol 2 - Appendices F - V 1/30/1995 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Crop King / Woods Industries Thermal Desorption Work Plan Vol 1 1/30/1995 Site Specific Technical Document - other
Crop King / Woods Soil Removal Report Volume 3 (Appendices F - K) 10/13/1993 Remedial Action Report
Crop King / Woods Soil Removal Report Volume 2 (Appendix E) 10/13/1993 Remedial Action Report
Crop King / Woods Soil Removal Report Volume 1 (Report Text and Appendices A - D) 10/13/1993 Remedial Action Report
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

  • Central Regional Office
    1250 W Alder St
    Union Gap, 98903-0009
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.

Contaminants 2

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Halogenated Organics - Halogenated Solvents RA B
Pesticides - Pesticides-Unspecified RA B
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.