Zur Hausen Orchard

The site currently operates as a senior living/retirement apartment complex. In August 2005, a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) was conducted at the site. According to the Phase 1 ESA, the property comprised approximately nine acres of commercial orchards and had been cultivated with commercial fruit orchards for at least 40 years. In September 2005, a limited subsurface soil assessment was conducted and arsenic contamination was reported in soils.

The "contaminated" soil stockpile was managed in two ways. A portion of the stockpile was buried in a deep sewer trench located on the north side of the Property along 29th Street NW and covered with at least six-inches of clean soil overlaid by a three-inch layer of sod. The remaining soils were placed underneath the large asphalt-paved future parking lot on the north side of the Property structure. No groundwater was encountered during excavation activities and, based on depth to groundwater estimated to range between 30 and 40 feet below ground surface, the buried arsenic-containing soils are not expected to be in contact with groundwater.
 
A six-inch layer of clean soil was placed on top of the three identified areas with elevated concentrations of arsenic in the surface soils. The total area on the property that received a six-inch clean soil cap totaled approximately 23,000 square feet. Sod, low-growing shrubs, trees and chipped bark were placed atop the clean cap to bring the grade up to the sidewalks and driveways.
 
A site-specific Operation and Maintenance Plan was prepared and will remain onsite. The manual includes a discussion about the physical and chemical hazards of arsenic, work control plans and prescribed work practices to reduce or eliminate direct contact exposure to potential arsenic-containing soils and will be made available to site contractors, utility workers, residents and employees.

In February 2009, an environmental covenant was recorded for the Site.

Based upon cleanup activities and the recording of the environmental covenant, Ecology has determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. Ecology issued a no further action determination in March 2009.

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 upon the site visit conducted on February 2, 2021, no repair, maintenance or contingency actions have been required. The cleanup actions completed at the site are protective of human health and the environment.
 
Soil cleanup levels have not been met at the site; however, the cleanup action for the property is 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.
 
The environmental covenant for the property is in place and continues to be effective in protecting public health and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances and protecting the integrity of the cleanup action.
 
Ecology has determined that the requirements of the environmental covenant are being satisfactorily followed.  No additional remedial actions are required by the property owner.  It is the property owner’s responsibility to continue to inspect the site to assure that the integrity of the cap is maintained.