Schwerin Concaves Walla Walla

1106 Sappolil Rd Walla Walla, Walla Walla County
Facility Site ID: 11293827 Cleanup Site ID: 3956

More about cleanup

Site Background

Pits in the foundation of the electroplating facility that was demolished as part of cleanup are covered to keep precipitation from filtering through contaminated soil.
Pits in the foundation of the electroplating facility that was demolished as part of cleanup are covered to keep precipitation from filtering through contaminated soil.

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

Hexavalent chromium is in soil and groundwater. Elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, zinc, nitrate, and sulfate are also in groundwater.

Cleanup

Ecology site managers Bill Fees and Sandy Treccani checking the depth to groundwater in a monitoring well.
Ecology site managers Bill Fees and Sandy Treccani checking the depth to groundwater in a monitoring well.

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.

Environmental Covenant

County Recording #: 2023-03574
County Recording Date: 6/27/2023

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
Places to see print documents
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
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
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 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
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.