Paxton Sales

Paxton Sales is a part of the Yakima Railroad Area (YRRA). The Yakima Railroad Area is approximately six square miles in size and includes parts of the cities of Yakima and Union Gap. The Yakima Railroad Area groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC) from past industrial use, and is centered around the railroad/industrial corridor of the greater Yakima area.

PCE is a manufactured chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal-degreasing. It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.

Exposure to PCE can be from the air, chemical use, soil, or water. PCE can affect the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and reproductive system, as well as unborn children. There is also an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

More information about potential sources of PCE and associated health risks can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website.

The Paxton Sales site operated as a metal manufacturing and machine shop for 25 years. From 1970 to 1984, the facility disposed of cyanide waste waters that were generated from the secondary rinse tank. The primary outlet for waste water was an on-site dry well. 

In 1988, a Preliminary Assessment was conduted at the site. It found that past wastewater disposal and chemical handling practices could pose an environmental threat to the community. A Screening Site Inspection in 1989, found PCE, metals, cyanide, oil, and semi-volitile organic compounds. EPA found the site to be a high priority and turned it over to Ecology in 1990.

In 1991, the site was added to Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of “1”. Sites on the Hazardous Sites List are a priority for Ecology, and have completed a Site Hazard Assessment (SHA). A SHA provides information about the environmental risk of the site. Risk is based on the amount of contaminants, how toxic they are, and how easily they can come in contact with people and the environment. Sites are ranked relative to each other on a scale of “1” to “5”; with a rank of “5” being the lowest.

In 1992, Paxton removed about two feet of oily residue from the dry well. The removed oily residue was taken to a hazardous waste collection station for disposal. By 1992, any wastewater streams which had been directed to the dry well were either discontinued or routed to the sanitary sewer.

Groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the Paxton facility as part of the facility investigation. These monitoring wells have shown that the Paxton facility is not contributing to groundwater contamination.

Based upon the cleanup activities taken and a de minimus settlement, Ecology has determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. The site was removed from the Hazardous Sites List in 1997.