The Japanese Auto Wrecking (JAW) site (no longer operating at this location) originally occupied approximately 1.7 acres. The site (located at 7777 262nd Street in Kent, Washington) is a former auto wrecking yard. The BB Partnership (site owner) contacted state and federal agencies regarding the suspected on site dumping of gasoline by Japanese Auto Wrecking. The site was referred to the EPA’s Emergency Response Unit by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington State Patrol, and the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) division. The site located near other auto wrecking yards, is within 0.25 mile of the Green River, and within 0.5 mile of residences. Prior to their February 2003 eviction, Japanese Auto Wrecking had taken over approximately 5.72 acres of the former Astro Salvage property. During the START site visit on February 13, 2003, oil was observed floating on surface water and strong petroleum odors were noted near a car-crushing area on the Japanese Auto Wrecking property. Workers on site reported the susupected dumping of thousands of gallons of gasoline directly into the soil at several locations. The site was closed by Washington Department of Labor and Industries in January, 2003, due to unsafe working conditions. On February 27, 2003, the EPA responded to the site due to the potential for buried chlorine gas cylinders to leak. On May 2, 2003, the EPA defined the entire 15 acre property (this includes the approximately 8 acres formerly occupied by Japanese Auto Wrecking) the site area.
