Superior Asphalt Beech St

The Superior Asphalt Site is located at 2000 E Beech Street, in Yakima. A petroleum hydrocarbon seep into a pond on the property triggered an Enforcement Action by Ecology in 1992.

After a Site Hazard Assessment conducted in 1992, the Site was ranked a “1” on the Hazardous Sites List. The Hazardous Sites List is a statewide list of contaminated properties.  Sites can be ranked from a “1” to “5”.  A rank of “1” is the highest level of environmental concern compared to other sites on the List, and a rank of “5” is the lowest.

To minimize groundwater contamination at the Site, the cleanup has removed contaminated soils and recovered petroleum products from the ground.  More than 35,000 cubic yards of soil have been excavated from approximately three acres of the site.  The soil and contamination removed from the pit and temporarily stockpiled on the site was used in paving projects.  

The cleanup action was selected as the preferable cleanup due to the opportunity to reuse the contaminated material.  The reuse and recycling of contaminated materials is a preferred technology listed in the Model Toxics Control Act.
 
A small amount of contaminated soil has been left in place between the liner and the pond.  The contaminated soil from this small area was not excavated to minimize damage to the existing wetlands and ponds and to maintain the integrity of the trench liner.

A restrictive covenant has been recorded regarding this property.  The covenant prohibits residential use of the property and prohibits disturbing the liner or soil cover without approval by Ecology.  It also requires isolation of the remaining contaminated soil and prevents removal of that soil without approval by Ecology.  These measures are designed to prevent further contamination.

Based upon cleanup activities and the recording of the restrictive covenant, Ecology has determined the Sie is no longer a threat to human health and the environment.  The Site has been removed from the Hazardous Sites List.

Periodic reviews are conducted every 5 years by Ecology for sites that have Environmental Covenants and/or Institutional Controls. The review is intended to examine the effectiveness of cleanup activities and to assure the continued protection of human health and the environment.

Periodic Review Results

Soils with TPH concentrations higher than MTCA Method A cleanup levels are still present at the Site. Free product may still be present at the Site in small quantities. However, the paved asphalt and clean fill surfaces prevents human exposure to this contamination by ingestion and direct contact with soils.

The Restrictive Covenant will ensure that contaminated soil and groundwater from the Site will not spread or be extracted for use and the integrity of the protective surfaces will be maintained through continuing the current use of the Site. The interception trench will ensure that contaminated groundwater from the Site will not spread and cause additional downgradient impacts.