The Site is located at 18 Blackbird Drive, Inchelium, Ferry County, Washington, 99138, which is located within the boundaries of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation on land held in trust by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Residences are located nearby, including one occupied across the street and others within a quarter mile. Businesses within a quarter mile include a grocery store, a health clinic, and a gas station. The population of Inchelium is just over 400, of whom 78% are Native American and almost a third are under 18. The area surrounding the Maintenance Building (MB) is a mixture of rural and residential, with several residences located to the north, south, and northwest of the site.

The MB is located on a two-parcel tract that is approximately 45 acres in area. The MB is located on Parcel 63212120001000, along with most of the buildings and operational areas associated with the IWTP project. This Parcel is approximately 10 acres. Parcel 63212120002000 is located to the west of the wood treatment plant facility and is approximately 35 acres. Most of Parcel 63212120002000 is composed of vacant fields, with some areas with sawdust and wood waste piles associated with log storage.

The contaminant of concern for this action is asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous substance as defined by sections 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14).

The MB is approximately 9,600 square foot, wood frame building that has not been in use for several years.  When the site was first visited by the EPA OSC (March 2014), approximately 40% of the roof had already collapsed into the building. Potential asbestos containing material (ACM) was identified in building materials inside the building and spread out on the ground surface outside the building.  Access to the dilapidated MB was only partially restricted and this building would likely experience further structural degradation. The ACM is susceptible to continued breakdown from weathering and/or mechanical forces which results in the uncontrolled release of asbestos fibers from the ACM to the environment.

In May 2014, the EPA visited the MB to conduct sampling for the presence of ACM. A total of 13 bulk samples were collected from the building and from the ground surface just outside of the MB. The bulk samples were submitted to a laboratory for the analysis of asbestos by Polarized Light Microscopy (Method EPA 600/R-93/116). Of the 13 samples submitted, four contained asbestos at concentrations ranging from 2% to 25% chrysotile. The samples that contained asbestos were collected from roofing material, floor tile, and a drywall patching compound.