Bingo Fuel Stop

The site is the location of a former combination fuel station and deli store. During a site visit on February 7, 1992, Ecology personnel observed petroleum product(s) floating on groundwater within open excavation areas onsite that resulted in explosive concentrations of gasoline vapors while the facility was open for business. It was reported to Ecology by Burns Brothers and the contractor for the independent remedial action that a flash fire had occurred during pit excavation activities at the site the week of January 27, 1992.

After early emergency actions to address the most dangerous conditions at the site, cleanup progressed steadily toward compliance with the cleanup regulations. Soil contaminated with gasoline and diesel fuel at the former Bingo Fuel Stop were excavated and treated using biological destruction of the contamination. Biological destruction of the petroleum products were achieved by providing soil conditions that supported native bacteria that fed on the contamination.

Samples taken from the monitoring wells at the site showed improving water quality. However, groundwater in the right-of-way areas needed more remediation to lower contamination levels below state cleanup standards. None of the drinking water wells in the area were contaminated.

Contaminated soil and groundwater in the off-site area was addressed under an Agreed Order and the Operation & Maintenance Plan (O&M). An Operation & Maintenance Plan is activities at a site after cleanup is completed to ensure that the cleanup or containment system is functioning properly. The O&M Plan selected monitored natural attenuation as the preferred remedy for the site. Monitored natural attenuation is when nature can help clean up contamination. 

As documented in Stantec’s “Former Bingo Fuel Stop Annual 2019 Groundwater Monitoring and Sampling Report,” dated March 10, 2020, samples collected from the remaining monitoring wells showed that any remaining contamination continues to be below state cleanup levels. The agreed order states that institutional controls are no longer necessary when cleanup levels have been met, so Washington State Department of Ecology and Kittitas County Public Works have been notified that special consideration is no longer necessary in the off-site areas.

Based upon cleanup activities conducted at the site, Ecology has determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. Institutional controls are no longer required. The site was removed from the Hazardous Sites List in October 2021 and Ecology issued a no further action determination.

Periodic reviews are conducted every 5 years by Ecology for sites that have 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

Based on a site visit conducted in March 2017, the former Bingo Fuel Stop property remains vacant and accessible to the public. The former Bingo Fuel Stop building was demolished prior to remedial actions. The site surface is covered by compacted gravel, asphalt and native soils. There have been no changes in current or projected future Site or resource uses.
 
Institutional controls were required at the site. These institutional controls could not be implemented through a restrictive covenant (now called environmental covenant) because the areas requiring restriction are not deeded property. Institutional controls were implemented through an internal notification system for WSDOT and the Kittitas County Public Works Department. These were in place in the event that soils need to be disturbed in the restricted areas, Ecology would be contacted and consulted. Ecology received copies of notification letters to both WSDOT and Kittitas County Public Works Department.
 
Ecology implemented an agreement with WSDOT for alternative institutional controls on WSDOT property. Now that the cleanup is complete, those institutional controls are no longer necessary.

The cleanup actions completed at the site are protective of human health and the environment.
 
Soil cleanup levels have been met at the site and the cleanup action for the Property has been determined to comply with cleanup standards under WAC 173-340-740(6) (f), since the long-term integrity of the containment system is ensured and the requirements for containment technologies have been met.