Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc
Facility Site ID:
12832256
Cleanup Site ID:
4257
Site Description
The current Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. (Smith Kem) site operated as a bulk fuel facility by Shell Oil Company from approximately 1923 until the early 1970s. From 1948 until early 1973, Shell leased a portion of the site to Smith Kem, an agricultural chemical business, which operated a dealership of Shell-branded agricultural products. The chemicals offered by Smith Kem included anhydrous ammonia, fertilizers, petroleum, and pesticides. These chemicals were handled, stored and distributed by Smith Kem.
Whats Been Done So Far?
Site investigations began in 2007 and continued in 2013-2020. Sampling results showed groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, nitrates, ammonia, chlorinated pesticides and herbicides.
In early 2016, Ecology entered into an Agreed Order with two of the potentially liable persons (PLPs). A PLP is any person who Ecology finds, based on credible evidence, is liable under State cleanup laws. An Agreed Order is a legal agreement between Ecology and PLPs outlining the expectations, process, and schedule for site cleanup. The Agreed Order requires the completion of an RI/FS. A Remedial Investigation (RI) uses data on what contamination is present and how far it has spread. A Feasibility Study (FS) outlines options, costs, and how long it will take to clean up the contamination.
The organic chemicals known to be present at the site include petroleum hydrocarbons, herbicides, and pesticides. Petroleum hydrocarbons contain many chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment. Herbicides and pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and a release of these chemicals pose a risk to human health and the environment.
In early 2016, Ecology entered into an Agreed Order with two of the potentially liable persons (PLPs). A PLP is any person who Ecology finds, based on credible evidence, is liable under State cleanup laws. An Agreed Order is a legal agreement between Ecology and PLPs outlining the expectations, process, and schedule for site cleanup. The Agreed Order requires the completion of an RI/FS. A Remedial Investigation (RI) uses data on what contamination is present and how far it has spread. A Feasibility Study (FS) outlines options, costs, and how long it will take to clean up the contamination.
The organic chemicals known to be present at the site include petroleum hydrocarbons, herbicides, and pesticides. Petroleum hydrocarbons contain many chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment. Herbicides and pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and a release of these chemicals pose a risk to human health and the environment.
Documents 45
Legal 7
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Draft Consent Decree | 3/8/2023 | Consent Decree |
Smith KEM RI/FS Agreed Order No. DE 12908 | 2/29/2016 | Agreed Order |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Final PLP ltr - Shell | 2/25/2015 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Final PLP ltr - Smith-Kem and Ad Gro | 2/25/2015 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Final PLP ltr - Smith-Kem and Ad Gro | 5/10/2013 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Smith Kem Ellensburg PLP ltr - Shell | 12/7/2012 | Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter |
Smith Kem ENL | 6/2/2008 | Early Notice Letter |
Public Information 5
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - DCAP, CD, SEPA DNS, SEPA Environmental Checklist - Fact Sheet | 3/8/2023 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc - Draft RI/FS Fact Sheet | 12/17/2021 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Public Participation Plan | 10/1/2020 | Public Participation Plan |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc-AO No. DE 12908 Responsiveness Summary | 4/22/2016 | Responsiveness Summary |
Smith KEM RI/FS Agreed Order Fact Sheet | 3/4/2016 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
State Environmental Policy Act 3
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Determination of Nonsignificance | 3/8/2023 | SEPA Documents |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - SEPA Environmental Checklist | 5/1/2022 | SEPA Documents |
Ecology Comments on SEPA for Anderson Road Sewer Extension Project | 12/13/2021 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 30
Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Draft Cleanup Action Plan | 8/1/2022 | Cleanup Action Plan |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - Request for Consent Decree Negotiations | 4/12/2022 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Approval of RI/FS | 1/21/2022 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc - Extension Denial | 10/20/2021 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc - Draft RI/FS | 10/1/2021 | Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Ecology Comments on Draft RI/FS | 9/10/2021 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc - ECY Approval of Draft RI/FS Extension | 4/21/2021 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellenssburg Inc - Data Gap Evaluation Technical Memo | 11/6/2020 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Ecology Approves Memorandums for Public Comment | 11/6/2020 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc. - Schedule Amendment for RI/FS Deliverables | 10/26/2020 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc - Letter to adjacent property owner | 5/12/2020 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - Ecology approves RIWP Addendum | 10/21/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - Ecology Comments on SRI 2019 WP Addendum | 9/16/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - ECY Response to 6/11/2019 Floyd Snider Letter | 7/3/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - PQL Issue | 5/31/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith-Kem - ECY 2nd Response to Draft RI Report | 5/8/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith-Kem Ellensburg - ECY Comments on PQLs in Draft Report | 4/9/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - Proposed Sampling Plan for VI Assessment (Revised 5/10/2019) | 3/12/2019 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith-Kem Ellensburg Inc Ecology comments on Floyd Snider VI Memo | 11/19/2018 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc ECY objection to Floyd Snider Memo | 11/2/2018 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Inc Approval of Extension for Submittal of Draft RI/FS | 11/2/2018 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith KEM Ellensburg 30Day Notice of Potential Liability | 9/25/2017 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem RI Work Plan | 7/1/2016 | Remedial Investigation Work Plan |
Smith Kem April 2015 GW Sampling and Analysis | 7/8/2015 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
Smith Kem Ellensburg 30-day notice of potential liability - Ad Gro | 10/31/2014 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg 30-day notice of potential liability - Smith Kem | 10/31/2014 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg 30-day notice of potential liability - Shell Oil | 10/31/2014 | Site Specific Administrative Document - other (Administrative correspondence) |
Smith Kem Ellensburg Subsurface Investigation Report | 9/1/2014 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
Smith Kem Ellensburg - Site Hazard Assessment | 8/13/2008 | Site Hazard Assessment Report |
Smith Kem Ltd Site Characterization Rpt | 7/26/2007 | Site Specific Technical Document - other |
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 Office1250 W Alder StUnion Gap, 98903-0009Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
-
Ellensburg Public Library209 N Ruby StEllensburg, 98926This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.
Contaminants 5
Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants | S | S | ||||
Pesticides - Halogenated Pesticides | C | C | ||||
Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Inorganic | C | |||||
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel | C | C | ||||
Pesticides - Non-Halogenated Pesticides | B | 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.
Public Comment Period March 08, 2023-April 07, 2023
Review the documents
• Draft Cleanup Action Plan
• SEPA Environmental Checklist and SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS)
• Draft Consent Decree
Submit your comments to John Mefford, Site Manager by April 7, 2023, 11:59 p.m.
Email: John.Mefford@ecy.wa.gov
Mail: 1250 West Alder Street, Union Gap, WA 98903
Online: Comment form
Next Steps
After the public comment period ends, Ecology will review and respond to comments received and will hold a public meeting if 10 or more people request one. If no significant changes are necessary, the Draft Cleanup Action Plan and Draft Consent Decree will become final.