Benton City Maintenance Yard

The Benton City Maintenance Yard site is the location of a former Benton City maintenance facility. In December 1991, three underground storage tanks were removed. Sampling results showed gasoline and diesel contamination above state cleanup levels in the soil.

In 2007, the site was added to Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of “3”.  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.

In September 1992, 500 cubic yards of soil was over-excavated around the locations of the three underground storage tanks. Over 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil was taken to the Richland landfill for remediation. Soil samples taken from the bottom and sides of the excavation showed no contamination above state cleanup levels.

Based on sampling results and the cleanup completed, Ecology determined the site does not pose a threat to human health or the environment. In May 2007, Ecology made a no further action determination. The site has been removed from the Hazardous Sites List.