Welchs Kennewick J Lieb Foods Inc

The Welch’s Plant Kennewick site is a food processing facility that was formerly owned and operated by Welch Foods, Inc. and is now owned by Lieb Properties II, LLC. In August 2006, a Phase 2 Environmental Assessment was conducted and soil and groundwater contamination from petroleum products was discovered. Two 12,000-gallon underground storage tanks that were removed in the 1970s had leaked. 

In 2013, the site was added to Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List with a ranking of “5”. 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.

Contaminated soil was removed from the site down to a depth of approximately 21 feet. Initial groundwater samples collected from soil borings showed diesel and oil contamination above state cleanup levels. Wells to monitor groundwater were installed, and sampling results for diesel and oil contamination were below state cleanup levels.

In February 2015, Ecology received the final quarterly groundwater monitoring report for the December 2014 monitoring event. After inspecting the site and reviewing the supporting documentation, Ecology has determined that the remedial actions have been satisfactorily completed at the site.

Based upon cleanup activities, Ecology determined the site is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. The site has removed from the Hazardous Sites List.