Schwerin Concaves Walla Walla
Site Background
Schwerin Concaves, Inc., began as a wheat farming operation and added a hard chromium electroplating business that operated from the late 1970s through 2000. Combine equipment used in farming contains parts called concaves that separate wheat from chaff. Concaves were brought to the electroplating facility and covered with chrome in a process called plating that protects the equipment from wear and tear.
Contamination at the site resulted from the chromium electroplating operations. Area groundwater is used for irrigation, drinking water, and recreation. Sampling of wells within a one-mile radius of the site confirmed these wells meet state standards for drinking water. Dry Creek has not been impacted by the on-site operations.
Schwerin Concaves, Inc. (Schwerin), site owner and operator, is responsible for cleaning up the site. However, they have been unable to fully fund cleanup, so Ecology has also used state funds from the Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative.
Contamination
Cleanup
In 2000, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued an Enforcement Order requiring Schwerin to conduct a Remedial Investigation (2005) to determine the locations and extent of contamination at the site. The order also required Schwerin to submit a Feasibility Study (2008) exploring options for cleaning up the contamination.
Following this, Ecology issued a Cleanup Action Plan (2012) using the information from the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, which became final following public comment and Ecology’s response to comments. In the plan, Ecology selected the following cleanup actions:
- Treating contaminated soil and groundwater by adding reactive media that converts hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, a safer form. Groundwater will be monitored quarterly to track progress.
- Decontaminating and tearing down the former chrome-plating building, and disposing of wastes stored there at an approved facility.
- Placing institutional controls on the property limiting access and how the land may be used until soil and groundwater meet state standards.
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.
Institutional Controls 1
Environmental Covenant
Restrictions/Requirements
- Ongoing Maintenance of Remedy
- Prevent the Reuse or Relocation of Site Soil
- Prohibit Removal or Alteration of Existing Buildings
- Prohibit Soil Disturbance
- Restrict All Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
Restricted Media
- Groundwater
- Soil
Documents 16
Legal 2
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Environmental Covenant: Schwerin Concaves | 6/27/2023 | Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism |
Enforcement Order: Schwerin Concaves | 2/25/2000 | Enforcement Order |
Map 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Vicinity Map: Schwerin Concaves | 2/16/2000 | Map |
Public Information 8
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Responsiveness Summary DCAP: Schwerin Concaves | 4/9/2013 | Responsiveness Summary |
Fact Sheet Draft Cleanup Action Plan, SEPA, DNS: Schwerin Concaves | 10/31/2012 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Invitation for Proposed Alternatives Spanish: Schwerin Concaves | 8/1/2008 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Invitation for Proposed Alternatives: Schwerin Concaves | 8/1/2008 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Draft RI Report Available for Comment Spanish: Schwerin Concaves | 12/1/2005 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Draft RI Report Available for Comment: Schwerin Concaves | 12/1/2005 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Proposed Interim Action and SEPA DNS Spanish: Schwerin Concaves | 10/1/2002 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Fact Sheet Proposed Interim Action and SEPA DNS: Schwerin Concaves | 10/1/2002 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
State Environmental Policy Act 1
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
SEPA DNS for DCAP: Schwerin Concaves | 10/22/2012 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 4
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Cleanup Action Plan: Schwerin Concaves | 10/30/2012 | Cleanup Action Plan |
Focused Feasibility Study: Schwerin Concaves | 6/27/2008 | Feasibility Study |
Remedial Investigation: Schwerin Concaves | 12/1/2005 | Remedial Investigation Report |
Site Hazard Assessment: Schwerin Concaves | 8/1/2000 | Site Hazard Assessment Report |
Places to see print documents
-
Eastern Regional OfficeN 4601 Monroe StSpokane, 99205-1265Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
Contaminants 1
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | C | C | S |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated