Washington Central Railroad Roundhouse

The Washington Central Railroad Roadhouse is a part of the Yakima Railroad Area (YRRA). The Yakima Railroad Area is approximately six square miles in size and includes parts of the cities of Yakima and Union Gap. The Yakima Railroad Area groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC) from past industrial use, and is centered around the railroad/industrial corridor of the greater Yakima area.

PCE is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing. It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.

Exposure to PCE can be from the air, chemical use, soil, or water. PCE can affect the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and reproductive system, as well as unborn children. There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

More information about potential sources of PCE and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.

The site was used as a railroad engine maintenance and repair facility for over 100 years starting in the late 1800s. PCE was possibly used to degrease engine parts as part of the engine maintenance.

In 1993, PCE contamination was found in the soil. 

The site is now owned and operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The roundhouse and maintenance facility has been demolished and is not currently being used.

In 1996, an environmental firm investigated the same area that was sampled in 1993. There was no PCE found during this investigation. In fact, no contamination was found above state cleanup levels.

In December 1996, the site was added to Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of “1”. Sites on the Hazardous Sites List are a priority for Ecology, and have completed a Site Hazard Assessment (SHA). A SHA provides information about the environmental risk of the site. Risk is based on the amount of contaminants, how toxic they are, and how easily they can come in contact with people and the environment. Sites are ranked relative to each other on a scale of “1” to “5”; with a rank of “5” being the lowest.

Based on a review of the site files, Ecology has determined the site does not pose a threat to human health or the environment. Ecology made a no further action determination in January 2018. The site has been removed from the Hazardous Sites List.