Golden State Foods

Environmental cleanup is complete at the site and the periodic review in 2019 shows that cleanup work remains effective in protecting the health of people and the environment. 

After cleanup in the 1990s, concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons remained in soil at the site above state cleanup levels. To prevent possible exposure to that contamination, an environmental covenant was filed for the site in 1997. The covenant restricts any activity on the property that may interfere with the integrity of the cleanup and continued protection of people's health and the environment.

When an environmental covenant exists for a cleanup site, Ecology reviews site conditions about every five years to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the cleanup action.

During the recent replacement and upgrade of underground storage tanks (USTs) in 2019, the remaining contaminated soil was removed. Currently the groundwater is being monitored on a quarterly basis to determine if there is any potential effect on groundwater.

Ecology inspected the site on May 8, 2019, and investigated the current condition of the asphalt and/or concrete pavement at the site. Conditions at the site continue to eliminate possible exposure of people and the environment to any potentially contaminated groundwater.

From November 21 to December 22, 2019, Ecology held a comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on conditions at the site. No comments were received and Ecology finalized the periodic review report.

Periodic Review Report-Final

The Golden State Foods cleanup site is located at 1409 Puyallup Street in Sumner on approximately 6 acres of land next to the White River. The site was developed around 1980 as a business/industrial park.  The site included a warehouse structure and offices, with truck fueling, maintenance, and wash facilities.

Underground storage tanks (USTs) were installed during initial construction.

• Two 10,000-gallon diesel tanks.
• Two fuel dispensers.
• Two 500-gallon waste oil tanks.

Currently the site consists of a food warehousing and distribution center. 

In 1989, a release of fuel from the diesel UST system was detected. A total of 600 cubic yards of contaminated soil was excavated and removed. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed.

In 1990, the two existing 10,000-gallon USTs were removed and a newer system consisting of one 15,000-gallon UST was installed. At the time, about five cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed. More soil sampling showed additional petroleum contamination beneath the corner of the building's concrete floor. A section of the concrete flooring was removed and contaminated soil to a depth of 6.5 feet was removed. However, a small amount of contaminated soil could not be removed due to the difficulty of working inside the building. In total, approximately 256 cubic yards of soil were excavated and removed during the removal of the tank nest and from under the building and nearby areas.

Analysis showed there was no groundwater contamination.  

In 1992, the two 500-gallon waste oil storage tanks were decommissioned.  A release of petroleum hydrocarbons was found during the process. About 20.5 tons of contaminated soil was excavated and removed. Further groundwater sampling showed groundwater was not contaminated by the release.

In 1997 a no further action (NFA) letter was issued and an environmental covenant was recorded for the site.  The environmental covenant was required because some contaminated soil remained under the corner of the building and under paved areas on the site.

In January 2019, the 15,000-gallon UST was decommissioned.  During removal, hydrocarbon odors were detected.  Approximately 480 tons of soil was excavated and removed from the tank excavation area. Contaminated soil was found beneath where the fuel dispenser had been located and about 6 inches of soil was removed from that location, too. 

Groundwater was found at approximately 9 to 10 feet below the ground surface. Groundwater was collected at the site and approximately 36,000 gallons were disposed of at a recycling service and 20,000 gallons were disposed through the stormwater system under Ecology's stormwater disposal requirements.

After the contaminated soil was removed, soil sampling in 2019 showed that petroleum concentrations were below state cleanup levels in the areas of the current and previous USTs and piping systems. 

To demonstrate that groundwater has not been affected based on current Model Toxics Control Act requirements, new groundwater monitoring data from wells installed near the UST system are being collected on a quarterly basis. 

Ecology held a public comment period for the periodic review from November 21 to December 22, 2019, and received no comments during the comment period.