Site Location
The site is in eastern Washington near the town of Grandview. This is a rural agricultural area. The site itself is on private property next to a vineyard for Concord grapes. The site is about 0.5 acres and was secured with a fence during the response. The Potential Responsible Parties (PRP) have been identified and are cooperating by granting access.
Description of Threat
Washington State Departments of Ecology (Ecology) and Agriculture (WSDA) had initially received information that two 55-gallon drums of herbicide, as well as thirty 5-gallon containers of used oil had been buried in an excavated trench. Surface water in an irrigation ditch is present on the site but there are no residences in the immediate area. The burial was reported to have happened last October.
Based on information received, WSDA was concerned the pesticide may be a pre- and post-emergent herbicide Di-Nitro product that was marketed under the brand name Dinoseb. Dinoseb was canceled by the EPA in 1986 because it was acutely toxic and suspected of causing birth defects among other reasons.
The potential threat to the environment and human health is contamination of soil and groundwater with pesticides and other hazardous materials. The amount of material that was disposed is unknown. There are over a 100 containers that held various types of pesticides and oil. The sizes ranged from quart-sized oil containers to 35 gallon pesticide containers. The closest home is a quarter mile away and is on a drinking well.
While, no Dinoseb was found in labeled containers or in product samples, other pesticides and hazardous materials were found.
A Site visit was conducted on Thursday, May 1st, 2009. A meeting was held with EPA OSC Andy Smith, EPA Public Information Officer Mark McIntyre, EPA Assistant Regional Counsel Cliff Villa, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Caryn Klaff, Department of Ecology's Dick Granberg, Deparment of Health Barbara Trejo, Department of Health Erin Kochaniewicz, and the PRP's consultant Ron Hicks. After the meeting two local printed press reporters, Daily Sun News reporter Jennie McGhan and Yakima Herald Republic Ross Courtney, were invited into the meeting to ask questions about the site and get an update on the progress of the investigation. After the meeting the represented agencies mobilized to the site and conducted a site walk to familiarize the individuals with what has occurred and what the future clean up will entail.
There are nine other suspected burial sites which EPA is considering investigating with the PRP. Some of these sites were observed from the local roadways.
EPA visited one nearby home owner to offer testing drinking well water. The home owner is considering the offer.
Proper disposal of contaminated drums, containers, and soil that remain on site.
Delineation of the extent of any contaminated groundwater at the site and off site.
Investigating the other suspected burial pit locations.
EPA is sending out letters offering to test wells for six homes that are nearby. EPA thinks it is unlikely the wells are contaminated from the site, but wish to do this to reassure home owners.
EPA is preparing an Administrative Order on Consent along with a schedule of work for the PRP to complete the cleanup on the site and to investigate the other sites along with EPA oversight. Upon signing the AOC, the PRP would need to develop a workplan for EPA approval. In addition,
EPA is writing an Action Memorandum which is documentation that provides the legal rationale for doing cleanup under CERCLA's removal program. The Action Memorandum also provides funds for doing cleanup oversight and the cleanup itself should the PRP not be willing or able to do the cleanup.
A criteria needs to be developed on EPA accepting any new burial sites that are reported to Ecology.
If groundwater is contaminated, which program will address that environmental issue?
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