Stubblefield Salvage Yard

We held a public comment period June 1 - 30, 2020, for the remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) report and public participation plan. You can learn more in the public notice that was mailed to the community. We responded to comments from one person, and the documents became final without revision.

The Stubblefield Salvage Yard site is about 11 acres. The property was used as a fat-rendering plant from about 1945 to 1950, and as a salvage yard from about 1950 to 2010. In addition to the salvage yard activities, the site also housed a large amount of waste and debris including batteries, transformers, car bodies, and drums filled with waste materials. Soil and groundwater are contaminated at levels exceeding state and federal standards due to historic operations.

In 2007, Ecology completed a site hazard assessment following an unannounced dangerous waste compliance inspection that resulted in the site being added to the confirmed and suspected contaminated sites list. Stubblefield was ranked a one, which represents the highest level of concern relative to other sites in Washington. To assess potential hazards posed to humans and the environment if a site is not cleaned up, an Ecology staff member visits the site to gather basic information. Sites are ranked on a scale of one to five. 

During the assessment, Ecology confirmed obvious releases to the environment, such as:

• Used motor oil and other heavy oils, likely diesel and gasoline spills from engine and car dismantling activities
• Brake fluid (hydraulic fluids)
• Lead and acid contamination from damaged batteries lying uncovered on the ground 
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from used oil spills and burning of various automobile components

In 2009, EPA visited the site and documented oil-stained soil, unlabeled drums, several large open-top tanks, and other types of uncontrolled wastes, including transformers and asbestos-containing material (ACM). EPA initiated a time-critical removal action to remove the drums, excavate some surface soil contamination, and mitigate damaged ACM siding from the shop building and ground. 

EPA also completed a removal site evaluation from 2009 to 2012. This evaluation assessed the extent of soil and groundwater contamination in the northern portion of the site. In May and June 2013, EPA excavated and disposed of contaminated soil from the northern portion of the site. The excavated areas were backfilled with clean soil and graded to their pre-existing conditions.

Although EPA remediated a portion of the site, contamination requiring cleanup under Washington's standards still remains at the site, and the extent of contamination at the site has not been fully defined. Documents related to EPA’s actions at the site can be viewed from their Stubblefield Salvage website.

Contaminants confirmed or suspected to be in soil and/or groundwater include:

• Petroleum products
• Volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Pesticides
• Metals

Surface water runoff into Mill Creek, which forms the northern border of the site, has likely been prevented by berms and other site features.