Lake Forest Park and Magic Cleaners

This Site is in the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).

Ecology received the Environmental Investigation Summary, Lake Forest Park Cleaners, 17171 Bothell Way Northeast, Lake Forest Park, Washington, on March 13, 2023.  Ecology issued an opinion letter on the site in February 2024.

The site is located at 17171 Bothell Way NE in Lake Forest Park, Washington. It was first developed as a strip mall in the 1960s. Two dry cleaning businesses operated in the strip mall between 1980 and 1997.

Both Magic Cleaners and Forest Park Cleaners contributed to the contamination at the Site.

Magic Cleaners operated in the northeast portion of the strip mall for about 5 years in the 1980s. Releases of contamination occurred from the dry-cleaning machines in the northern portion of the business. This part of the strip mall was redeveloped as a drug store in the early 1990s and is still currently used for that purpose.

Forest Park Cleaners was in business from 1989 to 1997. It was located in the southwest portion of the strip mall. Before Forest Park cleaners opened, an underground storage tank used to store heating oil was removed from the alley to the west of the building. Releases of contamination to groundwater were discovered in 1997.

Dual-phase vacuum extraction system

Cleanup at Magic Cleaners began in 1989 after discovery of contamination at the Site. A small amount of soil was removed from below the building when it was redeveloped into a drug store in the 1990s. From 1998 to 1999, a dual-phase vacuum extraction system was used at the site. The vacuum system extracted contaminated groundwater and soil gas from wells across the site. Contaminated water was discharged to the sanitary sewer for treatment.

Groundwater Recirculation System

From 2001 to 2009, a groundwater recirculation system was operated south of Magic Cleaners. The recirculation system consisted of two rows of wells. Air was fed into the bottom of the well, which forced contaminated
groundwater toward the top of the well. Contaminants evaporated from the water and were removed from the well.

Sub-slab depressurization System

A sub-slab depressurization system (SSDS) was installed below the Magic Cleaners building in 2005. The SSDS removes contaminant vapors from below the building slab and vents them outside the building where they dissipate and are destroyed. In 2006, a Restrictive Covenant was recorded for Magic Cleaners.

Heating Tank Removal

Before Forest Park Cleaners was in business, an underground storage tank used to store heating oil as well as small amount of contaminated soil were removed from the alley to the west. Samples from the edges of the excavation did not contain petroleum contamination.

A monitoring well was installed to monitor groundwater for contamination. Groundwater samples collected from this well were also clean.

Heating System 

To reduce contamination related to the dry cleaner, a six-phase heating system was installed in 1999. The heating system consisted of 27 electrodes installed into groundwater at 20 feet below ground. The groundwater was heated by the electrodes so that contamination would evaporate. The contaminant vapors were removed by wells installed in soil above the water table.

The Magic Cleaners and Forest Park Cleaners areas are currently being investigated to understand the current extent of contamination. Further cleanup actions are planned for this portion of the Site after characterization is complete.

Two separate Restrictive Covenant are placed on the Site to restrict access to remaining contamination.

Forest Park Cleaners

A Restrictive Covenant is recorded for the former Forest Park Cleaners building to contain contaminated groundwater. The covenant prohibits withdrawal of groundwater from the Site. Contaminated monitoring wells are sampled on a regular basis to monitor the breakdown of the contaminants.

Additional investigation is planned to understand the current extent of contamination in this portion of the property.

Magic Cleaners

The Restrictive Covenant requires operation and maintenance of the groundwater recirculation system and the sub-slab depressurization system to protect human health and the environment.

The Covenant also restricts uses of the area to commercial uses aside from recreation and child and elder care.

• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and oil-range total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH-O) into the Soil.
• PCE; TCE; cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE); vinyl chloride; acetone; and benzene into the Groundwater.
• PCE and vinyl chloride into the Air.

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology enacts the MTCA and oversees cleanups.

​The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.

What's In My Neighborhood shows contamination cleanup sites in Washington state. Ecology works to clean up these sites to protect the health of people and the environment. Cleanups are construction projects that remove, treat, or contain potentially harmful substances.

To report an environmental problem or concern, any time, day or night, use the online reporting form.

Counties: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom

Email: nwroerts@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 206-594-0000

Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services. To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6831 or email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341.  Visit Ecology’s website for more information.

​If you speak a non-English language, free language services are available.

This site is in 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 sites Ecology manages under legal orders.