Pierce Transit Sprague Ave

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

After cleanup, some petroleum-contaminated soil remained at the site. To prevent exposure to that contamination, a restrictive covenant was filed for the site in 2012. The covenant restricts property use and requires maintenance of pavement and a building to cap the area where the remaining contaminated soil is located. The covenant also requires regular, periodic monitoring of groundwater conditions at the site.

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

Based on Ecology's inspection of the site on August 20, 2018, the asphalt pavement and the building continue to provide an adequate barrier to exposure to contaminated soils. Results from the groundwater monitoring program show that groundwater contamination is not detected.

From January 17 to February 19, 2019, Ecology held a comment period to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on conditions at the site. No comments were received during the comment period and Ecology finalized the periodic review report.

Periodic Review Report-Final

The Pierce Transit Sprague Avenue site is an approximately 3.6-acre area that was redeveloped in 1995 into its current uses for office space, self-storage units, and a gas station with four pump islands and three underground storage tanks. From 1948 to 1987 the site was the location of Pierce Transit's facility for operations and vehicle maintenance and repair.  During its operation of the site, Pierce Transit had documented releases of petroleum hydrocarbons that leaked into soil and groundwater near some underground storage tanks.

Cleanup Site History

In 1986, approximately 400 gallons of waste oil was recovered from an oil recovery trench and sump, leaving hydrocarbon contamination below the structure of the maintenance facility boiler room.

In 1990 and 1991, approximately 3,700 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil was dug-up and removed, leaving an estimated 750 cubic yards of contaminated soil in place at three locations under the foundation of the building. About 45,000 gallons of oily water was pumped-out and removed from where the soil had been excavated.  

In 1998, ten underground storage tanks were removed from Pierce Transit's facility. 

Long-term monitoring of groundwater for petroleum products, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and lead started in 2012 and continues every 18 months. Current results of groundwater monitoring show that concentrations of these pollutants are not detected. 

The Environmental Covenant requires regular, periodic groundwater monitoring and maintenance of the pavement and building that cover contaminated soils to make sure they do not pose a threat to human health and the environment.

In 2013, Ecology issued a No Further Action letter to the owner.