Cowlitz Food & Fuel

We entered into an agreement (Agreed Order DE 21413) with some of the potentially liable persons (PLPs) who are responsible for cleaning up contamination at the site. These PLPs are Texaco Inc, Exit 59 Food and Fuel LLC, and Candid Travel Center Land LLC. The Agreed Order (AO) implements the cleanup action plan. The cleanup plan includes removal of the source of contamination and prevents people and the environment from contacting the contamination (see the Cleanup Action Plan below). 

We held a comment period from March 28 to April 29, 2024, providing an opportunity for persons to review and comment on the AO, revised feasibility study, cleanup action plan, and State Environmental Policy Act Determination of Non-Significance and Checklist.

We considered the comment we received during the comment period. The comment did not require making any changes to the documents, so we signed the agreement and finalized the  documents.

Responsiveness Summary. 

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

• Remove existing underground storage tanks.
• Excavate soil to a depth of about 12 feet below the ground surface.
• Remove about 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and dispose of it at an approved waste disposal facility.
• Place oxygen-releasing compound in the bottom of the excavation to promote natural microbial degradation of petroleum.
• Fill the excavation with clean soil.
• If contamination remains in the Mulford Road right-of-way, then file an environmental covenant on the property.

Groundwater cleanup

• Remove the contamination source and natural breakdown of petroleum by soil bacteria reduces the amount of contamination in groundwater over time. 
• Monitor groundwater conditions by testing water collected from wells located at the site. 

Institutional controls

The contaminated soil excavation does 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 are protected from contamination because it will remain buried under soil and pavement. 

If contamination remains at the site, the owner is required to 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 is prohibited.
• Ecology will review conditions at the site about every five years.