Walla Walla Farmers Coop
Cleanup Complete
Ecology removed the Walla Walla Farmers Co-op cleanup site from Washington's Hazardous Sites List (HSL) in 2018. The HSL includes all contaminated sites that have had their hazard ranked relative to other known contaminated sites in Washington. Sites are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 presenting the highest risk. In 1990, Ecology ranked this site a 1 due to pesticide contamination in groundwater.
Site History
Walla Walla Farmers Cooperative, an association that operates on a non-profit cooperative basis as an agent for its members, owns the farm chemical storage, mixing, and handling facility. Previously, pesticide and herbicide containers and fertilizer sprayers were rinsed, and contaminated water seeped into the ground. As a result, soil and groundwater became contaminated.
In 1985, Ecology started investigating the site after a complaint about illegal dumping. Since then, a series of investigations and cleanup actions have occurred to:
- Determine the extent and locations of contamination
- Remove contaminated soil and cap remaining contaminated soil that couldn’t be excavated
- Improve and monitor groundwater quality
In addition, a restrictive covenant was recorded on the property to limit or prohibit site activities that could expose remaining contamination or negatively affect the cleanup. Land use is limited to industrial purposes. The pavement may not be disturbed, no soil may be removed, and groundwater withdrawal and use is restricted. The covenant shows the type and location of contamination to inform prospective buyers, and Ecology must be notified of a property sale.
Site use restrictions called institutional controls are in effect
Institutional controls can be fences, signs, or restrictions on how the property is used. For instance, an institutional control may prohibit installing drinking water wells or disturbing a protective cap that isolates contamination. These restrictions keep the contamination contained and keep people from being exposed to the contamination. The controls are usually listed in environmental covenants recorded with the county.
Periodic reviews are required when institutional controls are required at a site. Ecology conducts reviews to make sure the controls remain effective and the cleanup still protects human health and the environment. We conduct periodic reviews about every five years.
Institutional Controls 1
Environmental Covenant
Restrictions/Requirements
- Prevent the Reuse or Relocation of Site Soil
- Restrict Land Use
Restricted Media
- Soil
Documents 6
Legal 2
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Order Satisfaction Letter | 6/25/2018 | Order Notice of Satisfaction/Status |
| Walla Walla Farmers Co-op Environmental Covenant | 5/5/1994 | Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism |
Public Information 1
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| Responsiveness Summary for Walla Walla Farmers Co-op Periodic Review 2013 | 3/13/2013 | Responsiveness Summary |
Technical Reports 3
| Document Title | Document Date | Document Type |
| 2017 Compliance Groundwater Monitoring Report and Request for Compliance Monitoring Termination | 11/9/2017 | Groundwater Monitoring Report |
| Periodic Review Walla Walla Farmer's Co-op 2013 | 2/6/2013 | Periodic Review (5 Year) |
| Walla Walla Farmers Co-op Periodic Review | 11/1/2007 | Periodic Review (5 Year) |
Places to see print documents
-
Eastern Regional OfficeN 4601 Monroe StSpokane, 99205-1265Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
Contaminants 3
| Contaminant Type | Soil |
Groundwater |
Surface Water |
Air |
Sediment |
Bedrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified | RA | RB | ||||
| Other Contaminant - Conventional Contaminants, Inorganic | RA | RB | ||||
| Pesticides - Pesticides-Unspecified | RA | RB |
- S
- Suspected
- C
- Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
- B
- Below Cleanup Levels
- RA
- Remediated-Above
- RB
- Remediated-Below
- R
- Remediated