PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD JUNE 15, 2020-JULY 15, 2020

Ecology is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the Interim Remedial Action Report for the Gold Knob Prospects a.k.a. Saddle Rock Park, located at 1200 Circle Street in Wenatchee.  An Interim Action is a partial or short-term cleanup of contamination.
  
Ecology is asking for your comments on the Interim Remedial Action Report. You are invited to:

    •  Review the "Interim Remedial Action Report – Saddle Rock Natural Area Phase 1 IRA
Construction Project Wenatchee, Washington" dated February 19, 2020

     •  Send your comments to Ecology for consideration.  Comments will be accepted June 15, 2020 through July 15, 2020.

The Interim Remedial Action Report is available for review above and at the “View Electronic Documents” link in the right navigation pane.  This document is also available for review at the repository locations listed in the right navigation pane.  Please submit any comments and technical questions to Frank Winslow, Site Manager, at Ecology's Central Regional Office. You may also submit comments online:

    •  Submit Comments Online

To request reasonable accommodations or materials in alternative formats, visit https://ecology.wa.gov/accessibility, email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, call Ecology at (360) 407-6831, Relay Service 711, or TTY 877-833-6341.

Hikers along a trail at Saddle Rock Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

Gold Knob Prospects a.k.a. Saddle Rock Regional Park is a 325-acre community landmark in the Wenatchee Valley, popular with hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders for decades.  For over 100 years, the property was owned by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and in 2011, the City of Wenatchee, along with assistance from the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, purchased the property.  It is now a public park and recreation area.  Dating back to 1891 until 1989, several areas of Saddle Rock were prospected for gold.  Prospecting exploration resulted in the creation of waste rock piles. 

In May 2011, Ecology collected soil samples and estimated the size of the waste rock piles. Results from Ecology’s testing showed high concentrations of certain metals, including arsenic, mercury, and selenium above state cleanup levels. 

You can find site documents by using the "View Electronic Documents" link in the bar on the right, or requesting information from the Central Regional Office public records coordinator.

Aerial Map courtesy of HartCrowser, 2013

CLEANUP ACTIVITIES

Ecology has entered into an agreement with the City of Wenatchee to remove the waste rock piles and dispose of them at the Wenatchee Regional Landfill.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Acronyms used by the Toxics Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Toxics Cleanup publications