Cowlitz Food & Fuel

The site is located at 101 Mulford Road in Toledo on the east side of I-5 at the Vader-Ryderwood exit. The site was purchased in 1947 and used for farming. Historically, a gasoline station has operated at the site since at least 1955.

The site includes properties on the north and south side of Milford Road. A gas station and mini-mart operate on the north side of the road. The lot on the south side of the intersection currently has an expresso stand, but there was a gas station on the property that was demolished in 1984. 

When underground storage tanks were removed from the south lot, tests showed petroleum had contaminated the soil. The 2010 interim cleanup action excavated and removed the contaminated soil from this lot. 

In 1986 petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater was discovered when underground storage tanks were removed at the active gas station and mini-mart on the north side of Mulford Road. After investigation and cleanup at the site, results showed petroleum hydrocarbons contamination remained at the part of the site where the active gas station is located. 

To address the contamination at the active station, a revised feasibility study and draft Cleanup Action Plan were developed. 

The Cleanup Action Plan is Ecology's plan for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater at the active gas station located on the north side of the intersection.

Soil cleanup

• Existing underground storage tanks will be removed.
• Soil will be excavated to a depth of about 12 feet below the ground surface.
• About 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil will be removed and disposed of at an approved waste disposal facility.
• Oxygen-releasing compound will be placed in the bottom of the excavation to promote natural microbial degradation of petroleum.
• Clean soil will be used to fill the excavation.
• If contamination remains in the Mulford Road right-of-way, then an environmental covenant will be filed on the property.

Groundwater cleanup

• Removal of the contamination source and natural breakdown of petroleum by soil bacteria will reduce the amount of contamination in groundwater over time. 
• Groundwater conditions will be monitored by testing water collected from wells located at the site. 

Institutional controls

The contaminated soil excavation will not extend into the Mulford Road right-of-way. So it is possible that contaminated soil will be present there after the cleanup. However, people and the environment will be protected from contamination because it will remain buried under soil and pavement. 

If contamination remains at the site, the owner will file an environmental covenant with the county.  Covenant restrictions may include:

• Property limited to industrial or commercial uses.
• Groundwater use limited to testing for contamination.
• Removing water from the site for drinking will be prohibited.
• Ecology will review conditions at the site about every five years.