Palouse Producers
Site Successfully Redeveloped!
This successful brownfield cleanup that was aided by an Ecology Integrated Planning Grant won the Small Community & Impact Phoenix Award at the national Brownfields Conference in 2023. Phoenix Awards recognize extraordinary practitioners and brownfields projects. Sarah Sieloff covered the story in PM magazine's August 2023 issue: "Palouse, Washington: A Small Town Takes Big Action on Brownfields."
Site History
The site was used for over a century for commercial activities serving the agricultural industry (service station, blacksmith, welding shop). Many of the past uses could have contributed contamination.
Conoco operated a service station on the site from 1955 to 1977. During its operation, five above-ground storage tanks and four underground storage tanks were installed.
In 1977, Palouse Producers began operations and used the facility to fuel vehicles and store and distribute bulk fuel until approximately 1985.
Historical documents show the facility was poorly constructed to contain spills and drips from historical operations and that spills occurred on the site. In addition, tanks and piping appear to have leaked. There is also evidence that these releases may have reached the Palouse River through overland flow or groundwater migration.
Contamination
Cleanup
- Installing and monitoring three groundwater monitoring wells
- Restricting groundwater use at the property and enacting a Soil Management Plan to guide future uses
- Removing soil with contamination levels above standards set to protect people and environment (soil below these levels remained on-site)
Periodic reviews
In July 2020, we completed the first periodic review and recommended no further cleanup actions. Groundwater monitoring will continue to track cleanup progress. The property has been purchased and redeveloped. Monitoring well access will be maintained, and the owners are working with us to ensure their business operations protect the cleanup and comply with the environmental covenants.
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.
Institutional Controls 1
Environmental Covenant
Restrictions/Requirements
- Prevent the Reuse or Relocation of Site Soil
- Prohibit Soil Disturbance
- Restrict All Ground Water Extraction/Well Installation
- Restrict Land Use
Restricted Media
- Groundwater
- Soil
Documents 13
Legal 3
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Environmental Covenant: Palouse Producers | 3/12/2013 | Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism |
| Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree: Palouse Producers | 11/17/2011 | Consent Decree |
| Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree Exhibits: Palouse Producers | 11/17/2011 | Consent Decree |
Outreach Information 4
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Palouse Producers: Turning liability into asset | 9/20/2024 | Focus Sheet |
| Responsiveness Summary Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree, DCAP, SEPA: Palouse Producers | 12/21/2011 | Responsiveness Summary |
| Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree, DCAP, SEPA DNS: Palouse Producers | 11/17/2011 | Fact Sheet\Public Notices |
| Public Participation Plan: Palouse Producers | 11/1/2011 | Public Participation Plan |
State Environmental Policy Act 1
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| SEPA DNS: Palouse Producers | 11/9/2011 | SEPA Documents |
Technical Reports 5
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Second Periodic Review: Palouse Producers | 7/16/2026 | Periodic Review (5 Year) |
| Periodic Review: Palouse Producers | 7/28/2020 | Periodic Review (5 Year) |
| Cleanup Action Report: Palouse Producers | 3/27/2013 | Remedial Action Report |
| Cleanup Action Plan: Palouse Producers | 12/1/2011 | Cleanup Action Plan |
| Work Plan: Palouse Producers | 5/5/2010 | Site Specific Technical Document - Other |
Places to see print documents
-
Eastern Regional OfficeN 4601 Monroe StSpokane, 99205-1265Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
Contaminants 5
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metals - Metals - Other | C | |||||
| Metals - Arsenic | C | C | ||||
| Metals - Lead | C | C | ||||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Benzene | C | C | ||||
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Gasoline | C | C |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated
Draft 5-Year Periodic Review Report
Ecology invites you to review and comment on the draft second periodic review report for this cleanup site. We review conditions at sites where some contamination remains about every five years, to make sure the cleanup is still effective.
During our site visit on April 20, 2026, we found the cleanup continues to prevent people and animals from contacting remaining contamination. Monitoring wells are accessible and in good condition. The site has been developed with two businesses in coordination with Ecology. Areas not covered by buildings are covered with gravel and maintained. The Palouse River shoreline is landscaped with plants.
We also reviewed groundwater monitoring data. Contamination generally has decreased, except for diesel in one well. Increasing the groundwater sampling frequency from once every five years to once every two years will help find out why.
Review the draft report
Submit comments via email, mail, or online by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 25 to:
Sandra Treccani, sandra.treccani@ecy.wa.gov
N. 4601 Monroe St., Spokane, WA 99205-1265
Online comment form
Next steps
Ecology will review comments received during the comment period. The periodic review will become final if no significant changes are made due to public comment. An additional public comment period will be held if significant changes are made. We will hold a public meeting if 10 people request it.